The news of Heimir Hallgrímsson’s contract extension as Ireland head coach took many by surprise on Thursday afternoon.

Firstly, the Icelander announced the news out of the blue during a press conference at FAI HQ, shortly after naming his Ireland squad to take on Czechia in the World Cup playoff in Prague next week.

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Secondly, the timing of the extension, just before that playoff window, raised more than a few eyebrows.

It’s a big testament to the faith the FAI have in Hallgrímsson and his coaching team to deliver, and few will argue if he does qualify Ireland for the World Cup.

However, the FAI have had four months since Troy Parrott’s heroics in Budapest in which to tie Hallgrímsson down. To do so now, just a week out from the biggest Ireland game in over a decade, could bring undue pressure on the head coach and the team to deliver.

Despite that, Damien Delaney argues that the FAI have made the right call – both with the decision to give Hallgrímsson a new contract, and the timing with which it has been done.

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Delaney on Heimir Hallgrímsson

Damien Delaney was on punditry duty for Premier Sports on Saturday afternoon, for their coverage of Fulham v Burnley in the Premier League.

The former Ireland centre-back defended the FAI’s decision to renew Heimir Hallgrímsson’s contract just a week out from the do-or-die World Cup playoff in Prague.

“No, not at all,” Delaney said when asked if he was surprised by the news of Hallgrímsson’s contract extension.

On the balance of work, he’s done well enough, I think, to merit it. There’s a lot of factors at play here.

The length [of time] it took to find Heimir would suggest that there aren’t that many people out there for us, when you look at what our pay rate is.

We’ve got a guy who’s proved to be astute, switched tack midway through after the Armenia game and got us through, with a certain system got us to where we are now. I think he’s done enough to warrant it.

Delaney then explained a key reason why he believed the decision had been made, suggesting the FAI could have had a fight on their hands to keep Heimir had they left the decision until after the World Cup.

On top of that too…by any chance he did manage to qualify us for a World Cup, then he’s going to be hot property.

I just think on both sides, both from Heimir and from our point of view, it adds up. The fact that he wants to stay here as well and he was happy to tie it up…a lot of managers would say, ‘Well, if I qualify Ireland for a World Cup, my options would be endless then.’ But he chose to stay with us. I think that’s a good sign too.

Everybody likes him, he’s good with the media, he’s a good speaker, he’s proven himself tactically to be astute.

I think, all round, it suits everybody.

An intriguing take, and one that makes a lot of sense.

If Heimir Hallgrímsson manages to get Ireland to the World Cup, few will begrudge him this contract extension.

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