Hallgrimsson clarifies LOI 'career change' comments

Hallgrimsson was speaking to the media ahead of the Republic of Ireland's Nations League play-off against Bulgaria

Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson has clarified comments he made in the wake of Shamrock Rovers' success in European competition earlier this season.

In December, Hallgrimsson said he hoped Rovers players would get "career change from this success" after the Dublin club reached the Uefa Conference League play-off round.

It prompted an angry response from Rovers boss Stephen Bradley, who labelled the remarks "incredibly disrespectful".

However, Hallgrimsson insists he meant no offence to Rovers or the League of Ireland.

"If I said it in a way that players need to leave to get into the national team that was not the way it was meant," said the Icelandic coach.

"My English is not perfect, but if I said it in a wrong way, I apologise for that. That is not my feeling. It was not meant as a disrespect to the League of Ireland."

The 57-year-old highlighted his previous willingness to call up domestic-based players in his roles with Iceland and Jamaica.

"If you look at my past as a national team coach, I have regularly taken domestic players into the national team just to shake the boat and to respect the league," Hallgrimsson explained.

"If you do as well as Shamrock Rovers did you are playing at the level we are comparing the other players to.

"I was complimenting Rovers and what is probably going to happen that if you do good in European competitions you draw attention to the club and there will be big attention on the players and the coach."

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley was critical of comments Hallgrimsson made about Irish players needing to move to be considered for selection

However, Hallgrimsson believes the backlash that followed has been unwarranted and has only added to the split he sees at the heart of Irish football.

"It feels that way for me [that there is a divide], it feels like it is a fight, and I don't understand it," he said

"If the national team does well, the League of Ireland does well and we're all in the same boat.

"So, whatever the issue is, we need to solve that and work together towards the future. Maybe I am naive, but that is my take on it."

Bulgaria a 'tough team'

Bulgaria's sole defeat in their Nations League campaign came against Northern Ireland

Looking ahead to the two-legged League B promotion/relegation play-off later this month, Hallgrimsson expects Bulgaria to provide stern opposition.

The first leg takes place in Plovdiv on Thursday 20 March, with the second leg taking place in Dublin on Sunday 23 March.

A win over two legs will help the Republic maintain their League B status, but a defeat will result in relegation to League C.

Bulgaria finished second in League C Group 3, losing just one of their six games - a 5-0 defeat by group winners Northern Ireland.

"This is a good opponent to play now, they have only lost one game, it was a real outlier too against Northern Ireland, they were missing five of their players.

"They have been impressive, they are a tough team, they are going to be compact and hard to break down it is going to be a test."