Tom Cannon

I would find that approach quite refreshing. 

If we have a new manager before February, I'd love to see this rolled out:

"Hi Tom, We really like the look of you and would like to get you involved in March. Take a couple of weeks to think about whether you want to play for us and let us know by X date as we'll be naming the squad a week or two later. If you're not sure or would prefer to hold off on a decision then thats no problem but I wont be in a position to consider you for selection in my tenure as I need to forward plan to build a squad with committed players. If you want to have a chat to discuss then I'm more than happy to accommodate but lets do it sooner rather than later. "

What is to stop a player whose parents are born in Ireland to “abuse” the rules as you say under your rules.  

It’s funny that you say rules are rules I.e the players would

Just have to accept them (under your system). But you are not prepared to do the same and accept the current rules.  Double standards.  

The rules currently in place are the same for every nation are also aligned with our rules around citizenship.   If you change the rules it will change for every nation and it will also mean they are not aligned with citizenship.  I.e. a person could get an Irish passport and be an Irish citizen but couldn’t play for Ireland under your rules as they wouldn’t be deemed Irish enough for you. Not a very clever situation to have.   You are just coming across as an angry man shouting at a cloud to be honest just because a few players game the situation for their own benefit.  Also you are putting words in my mouth.  You use the word mercenaries and you are of the view the team is full of mercenaries.  That’s not my view so you associating your view of the world with me is a classic straw man tactic.  

That includes replying to this. 

Kenny’s constant need for a good news story left him unable to do that.

I like the granny rule and I'm fine if a player asks "can you give me a bit of time to mull things over'. But a bit of time should be like a month or two max to talk it over with the family. If by the next window they are still saying they are not sure then leave them to it. Let them come begging to you later on rather than chasing them down.

I'd even come out publicly as a manager and say "The player has said he hasn't made up his mind so im closing the door on that one, we have other players who want to play for us. The door is not locked but it will be up to player if he wants to come back and ask us to reconsider him again'. 

Aye, rules are rules. And the rules of our country state than those with an Irish grandparent can be citizens, equal with all other citizens. FIFA rules similarly mirror this. 

But no, lets disregard all of those rules because Tom Cannon and those like him make you feel a bit anxious. Proper snowflakey if you ask me