Sport 06-11-2002 Aldridge Tipped To Take On Ireland who: Mick McCarthy what: Quits as manager of Republic of Ireland where: DUBLIN when: Yesterday snippet: "Mick McCarthy may have won the battle with Roy Keane but he lost the war," reports The Telegraph`s Christopher Davies, "when the simmering controversy surrounding his former captain forced the Republic of Ireland manager to resign after 6.5 years in charge." "It was my decision," he told a press conference in Dublin, quoted in The Independent. "Nothing was suggested, nothing was said and nobody was pushing me. I believed my presence has been affecting performances and I said that as soon as this happens I would leave. I don`t feel any sense of betrayal. I feel pride to have been allowed to do the job. I enjoyed every minute of it." "Despite a relatively successful World Cup, in which he guided the team through to the second stage only to be knocked out by Spain on penalties, the Keane episode clearly left a strain on McCarthy," says The Scotsman`s James Little, recalling the debacle over the shock resignation of the team`s captain and star player this summer. "The pressure on him escalated with defeats in the opening Euro 2004 qualifiers against Russia and Switzerland, and McCarthy decided yesterday that enough was enough." The Mirror says John Aldridge will be offered the job within the next 72 hours. The ex-Irish World Cup hero "is the Football Association of Ireland`s outstanding candidate," writes John Cross, "and the former Tranmere manager has already been sounded out about the post. His former international team-mate Ray Houghton is likely to be made his assistant." Roy Keane "is now assured of a return to international duty for the Republic`s two away qualifiers in Albania and Georgia in March," reckons The Sun`s Neil Custis. [... more]

What The Papers Say is delivered to thousands of readers every morning by web, WAP and email. Sign up today!