McGrath angered at players

Paul McGrath knows what side his bread was buttered on. Having gone through some awful times growing up in an orphange in Dun Laoire he always remembered where he was from. If ever there was a man who could relate to the fans the black pearl never refused a fan a picture or an autograph all through his life. After the Serbia match he saw what some of the new type of Irish players could be like when they refused to sign autographs for young fans.

He spoke on Monday night to Newstalk's Off the Ball show and his anger was clearly showing in his voice.

He said

"There was a mascot that I got involved with that was to be the mascot for the game on Saturday. The family went into the players lounge afterwards and asked one or two of the high-profile players if they could have their autographs and pose for pictures and they were refused.

"I had arranged it through the FAI who were helpful in doing it for me and I managed to get them players lounge tickets.

"They've gone up to one or two of the higher profile players and got refused. All of the three little boys there are all under 10 years of age. I think the FAI should be concentrating on saying to the players remember where they came from.

"These are the people who pay their wages, it's about getting a message out to one or two of these players that maybe they should remember where they've come from."

McGrath was furious that some players in the squad are angry at the appointment of Liam Brady to the Irish set-up. He said these Irish players were "childish and stupid" if they are upset with Brady about his TV punditry role in the past.

He said

"If players are looking back to Liam's involvement as a pundit on TV and what he said about them then that's very childish and stupid,"

"To me Liam Brady is the best player I know that has played for Ireland and to have him involved can be considered a dream ticket but it can only be a dream ticket to have the players to put that into action and start winning us games."