McClean hits back at Keith Gillespie over ‘defector’ claims

Irish winger James McClean has hit back at claims from Keith Gillespie that he used the Northern Ireland underage system to help his prospects with the Republic of Ireland.

Former Manchester United winger turned Longford Town star Gillespie hit out at McClean on a LA radio station – Keith is obviously a big draw stateside – earlier this week for his decision to ‘defect’ to the Republic having played for Northern Ireland at underage level.

But McClean, who has had to put up with plenty of abuse, particularly on his now defunct Twitter page, since making his debut for the Boys in Green earlier this year had little time for Gillespie’s criticism and reaffirmed his commitment to the Republic’s cause.

“It’s a joke,” the Sunderland wide man is quoted as saying in the Irish Daily Star in response to Gillespie’s comments.

“I’m Irish and I’ve always been Irish and I’ve always supported the Republic of Ireland.

“I’ve always wanted to play for the Republic of Ireland and I couldn’t be more proud that I am doing that.

“Just because I’ve grown up in Northern Ireland doesn’t change that.”

McClean has admitted that he regrets his decision to appear for Norn Iron at underage level, saying that it was “naïve” and that if the Republic of Ireland came in for him, there would be never any doubt where his allegiances lay.

Gillespie felt that by adopting such an approach that McClean was using the system and that players born in Northern Ireland should have to play for Northern Ireland.

“I’m of the firm belief that if you’re born in Northern Ireland you should not have the option of playing for the Republic,” Gillespie said.

“James McClean is a prime example. He had no intention of ever playing for the Northern Ireland senior team and he’s made that clear.

“But he used the Northern Ireland system to get into a position where he could defect to the Republic.”

As with the likes of Darron Gibson and Marc Wilson, McClean was well entitled to play for Ireland under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. This is something that was obviously lost on Gillespie, who played 86 times for his country and scored a whopping two goals in the process.

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