'Suddenly it becomes a bit of an issue' - Boss of Portsmouth and Oxford United rival responds to 'conflict of interest' claims
Blackburn and Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has reacted to claims his dual managerial responsibilities have caused concern among rival Championship clubs
Michael O’Neill admitted he was disappointed to learn ‘one or more’ Championship clubs had contacted the EFL regarding his dual roles as Blackburn Rovers and Northern Ireland manager.
The Ewood Park boss also stressed he always puts the players under his charge first amid concerns of a conflict on interest in his current working arrangements.
O’Neill found himself under scrutiny on Tuesday, and in the build-up to Northern Ireland’s friendly against Wales, after BBC Oxford reported that contact had been made with the Football League regarding the 56-year-old.
They claimed Blackburn’s relegation rivals Oxford United were uncomfortable that the former Stoke manager could impact the battle for survival at the bottom of the Championship with his international selections.
It’s not clear what other clubs adopted the same stance. Although, speaking to The News this week, Pompey boss John Mousinho admitted he felt there was ‘a conflict of interest’.
Northern Ireland drew their latest fixture in Cardiff, with Blues defender Terry Devlin starting his second match in a row for his country and being named man of the match. West Brom’s Isaac Price was also named in the starting XI, as were Oxford duo Jamie Donley and Ciaron Brown. U’s defender Brodie Spencer was also introduced to the action in the second half.
Speaking after the final whistle, O’Neill said he had not been contacted by either managers or club officials from the ‘one or more’ rivals who felt the need to contact the EFL.
‘I was a little bit disappointed with that because I didn't get a phone call from any of the managers,’ O'Neill said.
‘I didn't get a phone call from anyone from their respective clubs.
‘They felt whatever they decided to do, or what avenue they took to raise their concerns, it's disappointing given that I've managed over 100 international games, and I've always put the players first.’
He added: ‘These clubs, they ask for references on players, they ask for character references, level of performance from us and our staff when they want to sign these players.
‘They were international players when they signed them. Now suddenly it becomes a bit of an issue that they're international players.’
The Championship’s battle for survival
Only four points separate Blackburn in 19th (43 points) and Oxford in 23rd (39 points) going into the final weeks of the season.
And all five clubs looking to avoid joining already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday in League One next season are in action on Good Friday, when the Championship returns following the international break.
Oxford welcome Hull City to the Kassam Stadium; Leicester - the other team currently in the bottom three - are at home to Preston North End; Pompey travel to Norwich City; West Brom host Wrexham; while Rovers are away to Birmingham City.
Those games, which will then be followed by a round of games on Bank Holiday Monday, come just three days after that Wales v Northern Ireland stalemate. All of the above-mentioned players, bar Brown, featured in the GAWA’s defeat to Italy last Thursday.
Prior to Tuesday night’s fixture, O’Neill allowed four players to leave his Northern Ireland camp and return to their clubs - including key Norwich defender Ruairi McConville and WBA’s Paddy McNair.
Devlin amassed 148 minutes of football across Northern Ireland’s two games over the international break.
Blackburn defender Tom Atcheson replaced Ethan Galbraith in the 80th minute against Wales - his only action in both games played.
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