'i Put Players First' - O'neill 'disappointed' With Concerns

ByAndy Gray

BBC Sport NI Journalist astatine nan Cardiff City Stadium

Northern Ireland head Michael O'Neill says he is "disappointed" by clubs who raised concerns astir his dual domiciled pinch Blackburn Rovers.

Ahead of Northern Ireland's goalless tie successful Wales, nan English Football League (EFL) confirmed they had been contacted by "one aliases much clubs" regarding nan matter but it was not an rumor that would beryllium dealt pinch by them.

It comes arsenic a number of Northern Ireland squad are vying against O'Neill's Blackburn Rovers to debar relegation from nan Championship.

The 1-1 tie successful Cardiff was taking spot aft Wales and Northern Ireland missed retired connected World Cup qualification successful Thursday's play-offs.

"I was a small spot disappointed pinch that because I didn't get a telephone telephone from immoderate of nan managers," O'Neill said.

"I didn't get a telephone telephone from anyone from their respective clubs.

"They felt immoderate they decided to do, aliases what avenue they took to raise their concerns, it's disappointing fixed that I've managed complete 100 world games, and I've ever put nan players first."

BBC Sport Oxford said that Oxford United raised concerns pinch nan EFL, and of nan 4 players Brodie Spencer replaced nine team-mate Ciaron Brown aft 64 minutes.

Goalscorer Jamie Donley was besides taken disconnected astatine nan aforesaid time, while Jamie McDonnell did not feature.

Of nan different relegation rivals, West Brom's Isaac Price played 45 minutes while Terry Devlin was replaced pinch 10 minutes left.

O'Neill, who said he "doesn't person a relationship" pinch nan managers astatine different clubs that needed to beryllium ironed out, said he will "always effort to protect nan players".

"If I'm honest, I'm a small spot disappointed," O'Neill added, who said he would ne'er want Northern Ireland to "affect their nine situation".

"These clubs, they inquire for references connected players, they inquire for characteristic references, level of capacity from america and our unit erstwhile they want to motion these players.

"They were world players erstwhile they signed them. Now abruptly it becomes a spot of an rumor that they're world players."

Former Northern Ireland world Stuart Dallas said that O'Neill's integrity could not beryllium questioned.

Speaking connected BBC Sport NI's sum of nan game, said it was an "easy" rumor to jump on.

"I deliberation 1 point you can't do is mobility his integrity, you can't do that," Dallas said.

"Michael is knowledgeable and he's managed his state much than 100 times.

"At nan extremity of nan day, it is each good and bully erstwhile these clubs are getting vulnerability for having truthful galore players called up.

"If location was thing riding successful this crippled tonight, they wouldn't beryllium complaining.

"Northern Ireland aren't blessed pinch a large excavation of players. These players are each playing nan EFL.

"They play Tuesday and Saturday almost each week, truthful for maine there's nary issue."

David Healy, who has scored much goals for Northern Ireland than immoderate different antheral player, said he understood why location would beryllium questions asked by Rovers' relegation rivals, but he did not deliberation that O'Neill would jeopardises immoderate of his players.

O'Neill will return complaint of Blackburn's last 7 games of nan play arsenic he looks to steer Rovers clear of relegation, starting astatine Birmingham City connected Friday and astatine location to West Brom connected Monday.

He said aft nan crippled successful Italy that he will return to nan "status quo" for June's friendlies, and he has a statement until 2028 pinch Northern Ireland.

Going forward, Linfield head Healy said he "absolutely hopes" O'Neill leads Northern Ireland into nan adjacent campaign, and said location is "major hope" for nan young squad going forward.

"When you look astatine it, Michael has rebuilt complete nan past mates of years.

"This is simply a squad afloat of quality, it's a squad afloat of energy. The mean property of nan group is 22, truthful it's only going to get better.

"I don't spot why Michael can't get nan champion retired of this group.

"He's a Northern Ireland man done and done and he wants Northern Ireland to beryllium astatine a awesome finals."