‘What happens next, happens’ – Lindsay coy on NI future

Northern Ireland interim manager Kris Lindsay said it is “up to the powers that be” at the Irish FA to decide whether he will be appointed as permanent boss.

Lindsay took over as Tanya Oxtoby’s successor for NI’s initial two World Cup qualifiers this month, presiding over defeats by Switzerland and Turkey.

When asked about his future after the narrow 1-0 defeat by Turkey on Saturday, Lindsay, as he did before the game, brushed off talk of him continuing in the role despite players like Laura Rafferty, Nadene Caldwell and Jackie Burns backing him publicly.

“I’ve been focussed on these two games. That’s something for the powers above me to decide what’s happening for the next camp,” he said.

An error from returning goalkeeper Lauren Perry allowed Ece Turkoglu to score the only goal of the game for Turkey at Mourneview Park in the first half.

Like against Switzerland on Tuesday, when they fell to a 2-0 defeat, NI restricted Turkey to few chances, but failed to really work Selda Akgoz.

While Lindsay said the loss was “disappointing” he is confident that “whoever” is in charge for April’s double-header against Malta “has the basis of a really good squad there”.

“They obviously scored from a mistake from us, which happens, it’s fine and I thought that killed the momentum a little bit and we lost a little bit of enthusiasm and there was nothing really in it in the first half,” he added.

“But second half, I thought we were more of a Northern Ireland performance in terms of enthusiasm and intent, we had them pinned in for large spells of the second half.

“We lacked that little bit of composure or that final pass to create a chance and get a shot off, but I said to the girls there be disappointed, no one likes losing games of football but take learnings from it, because Turkey were strong, physical, aggressive quick and at times caused us problems, but when we moved the ball we caused them problems but we didn’t do it enough.”

The second successive defeat leaves Northern Ireland third in the group and puts pressure on them to win their double-header against bottom side Malta next month to stay in the hunt for a play-off.

NI are currently on a five-game run without a win, with their last victory coming in April last year and Lindsay believes the overhaul in players and staff recently means qualifying for the World Cup this campaign will come too soon for a young group.

“I think it’s one where, of course, we want to get results, no one, likes losing games of football, but for me, we’ve got to develop these younger players and expose them to international football.

“I thought Mia Moore was really good, really positive, there’s young, talented players there to build on and that’s what they need, experience and sometimes you’re going to suffer defeats.