Townsend decides to call it a day

Mick McCarthy paid tribute to his captain Andy Townsend yesterday after the Middlesbrough midfielder confirmed that he has played his last game for the Republic of Ireland in a career embracing 70 international appearances.

McCarthy discovered that he must replace his principal midfield strategist sooner rather than later when Townsend informed him that he would not be available for any of the forthcoming European Championship warm-up games.

Earlier, he had offered the opinion that the player who led Ireland during the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States still had a contribution to make at the highest level. Now he accepts that Townsend's decision, first articulated after the World Cup play-off against Belgium in Brussels, is final.

"I've been aware of it for some days and I accept now that Andy has played his last game for us," he said yesterday. "He has been a marvellous player for Ireland and it certainly doesn't make the challenge of replacing him any easier.

"In my time as manager, he was a fine team captain who led by example. That's an appointment which I don't intend to make for some time but in the meantime we're going to miss Andy's strength and experience when we play in the Czech Republic next month."

Townsend, who was introduced to senior football by Southampton and subsequently had spells with Norwich, Chelsea and Aston Villa before moving to Middlesbrough last October, made his first Ireland appearance against France in 1989.

"I've been privileged, first to play for Ireland and then captain them at a time when we enjoyed some great results," he said. "The highlight would have to be the 1-0 win over Italy in New Jersey in 1994 but there are many, many more memories I have of my games in the green shirt."

"It's not easy to say that I've played my last international game but with so many good young players coming through, it would be wrong to stay around for another season. Mick is getting close to the right blend and I wish him well in the future."

Mark Kennedy, whose loan spell with QPR ended on Wednesday, has been recalled by Liverpool in spite of a £2.5 million offer by the QPR manager, Roy Harford.