“My job as manager of the club is that we represent the club well and to protect our club at all times,” Galway United boss John Caulfield says.
The decision to name a raft of SSE Airtricity League players, including United teenager Alex Murphy, in a Republic of Ireland U21 squad for Tuesday’s UEFA European Championships qualifier away to Montenegro, but leave them out for tomorrow’s clash with Luxembourg at Tallaght Stadium has been criticised by Caulfield.
“I have a responsibility to protect Alex Murphy,” Caulfield adds. “He has not been called up by the U19s - then all of a sudden the U21s have decided that they will bring the lads that play in England over for the Friday night game in Dublin against Luxembourg, but on Tuesday night - because some of them can't go - they will then send some of the League of Ireland fellas to Montenegro.
“I was making the point that there was no communication with the club, players are being used as guinea pigs and I think that is wrong. Personally I think League of Ireland clubs should stand up and say they are not going to put up with that.
“If Alex Murphy was called in for Friday night's match in Tallaght, and if he was part of the panel I would have no problem with Alex going to Montenegro on the Tuesday.”
Caulfield believes it is an ‘insult’ to the domestic league. “Going into a country on the red list because a number of fellas playing in England can't go - I think that is an insult to the League of Ireland.
“It is an insult to Galway United, to the player, and I felt I had a responsibility to defend the player in that situation. He is only a young lad, he may not understand, but I understand exactly what has gone on in this situation.”
