Showdown looms as Kerr selects his premier squad

Republic Of Ireland manager Brian Kerr raised the stakes in his battle with some of the big English Premiership clubs yesterday when he named a number of players in his panel for the Under-20 World Cup in Nigeria next month whose clubs maintain will not be made available.

Expressing "no great confidence" about their availability, Kerr included Everton pair Dean Delaney and Richard Dunne, as well as Stephen McPhail and Damien Lynch of Leeds United. Everton have prevented their players from having the necessary inoculations and they must have them in the next week if they are to travel.

Both Everton and Leeds have repeatedly stated that the players will not be released to take part in the tournament, but Kerr says simply that "it was always our intention to name the best squad of players we have for the tournament, after that we'll have to wait and see what happens".

FAI general secretary Bernard O'Byrne insists that the association has received repeated assurances from FIFA that any club which attempts to prevent a player taking part in the competition will be severely dealt with.

O'Byrne actually had to leave yesterday's press conference in Merrion Square for a time in order to take a call from Michel Bacchini, tournament director for Nigeria '99, who reiterated FIFA's assertion that "severe sanctions" would be imposed on offending clubs.

FIFA, in fact, caused the English FA considerable concern yesterday when its president, Sepp Blatter, stated that not only would clubs be punished for withholding players but that associations failing to send their strongest available squads would face disciplinary action.

English manager Howard Wilkinson has said that he will not look to bring any first-team regulars with leading clubs. Given that this policy will mean that the likes of Gareth Barry, Michael Owen and Alan Smith will all be "allowed" to skip the event, the English authorities were yesterday "seeking urgent clarification" from FIFA on the issue.

Kerr, meanwhile, has brought in four players who were not part of last summer's European Youth Championship winning squad in Cyprus, with Damien Lynch, Damien Duff (the only survivor from Malaysia), Richard Sadlier and Shelbourne's Richie Baker all included for this trip. Kerr has also left one vacancy which he will fill next week.

The squad will gather in Dublin four or five days before travelling with any players involved in the games in Macedonia joining up immediately before heading for Africa on March 29th.