The FAI have appointed Wim Koevermans as our new International Performance Director. Koevermans, who is currently working for the Dutch Football Association will start his new job for the FAI on the 1st of September.

I don't know too much about this job, but it sounds like a load of nonsense to me - like that thing Bobby Robson was doing for Steve Staunton - advisor or something. Anyway, according to the FAI website, "Koevermans will be responsible for the development and delivery of the FAI’s High Performance Strategy and will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer."

I'm not sure what that exactly means but if it brings us a step closer to qualifying for the World Cup in 2010 then I'm all for it! I don't think it will have too much of an effect on how we see Ireland play in the future but I'm sure he will be doing a lot of work behind the scenes.

In other news, Italy and AS Roma playmaker, Francesco Totti has revealed that he may come out of international retirement to work with new Italy manager Marcello Lippi again. This, I would imagine, would of course give Trapattoni and his staff more work to do and would give them one or two head aches I can imagine.

 But anyway, we'll see how things pan out in the future.