'Always put players first': Michael O'Neill hits back at Blackburn relegation rivals | OneFootball

Michael O’Neill has condemned clubs who went to the EFL over his dual Blackburn and Northern Ireland roles, insisting he puts players first, according to ExpressAndStar.com.

The Blackburn manager took the job earlier this season on an interim basis until the end of the campaign.

Tensions centred on Northern Ireland selecting players from clubs fighting Blackburn in the Championship survival scrap during the international break. Oxford United had four in the squad, Portsmouth included Terry Devlin and Albion had Isaac Price.

Before the Wales friendly in Cardiff on Tuesday, the EFL said it had been contacted by one or more clubs and that the matter was not for them to handle. Concerns focused on how much those players would be used.

BBC Oxford reported Oxford were among the clubs to raise the issue. In the match, two players played 64 minutes, another entered at that point and one did not feature.

Price was substituted at half-time, and there is no indication Albion were among those to complain.

After the game, O’Neill said he was disappointed not to receive a single call from any manager or club and stressed he has always prioritised players in more than 100 internationals. He said clubs regularly seek references from his staff when signing players, adding they were internationals when recruited so their status should not now be a problem.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com