Matt Holland: Club reality bites after the Irish high

I was sitting in the dressing room at Hampden Park on Tuesday contemplating the training we had done and wondering about the news that Ipswich had gone into voluntary administration when Brian Kerr, the new Republic of Ireland manager, sat down next to me. "Matt, I want you to captain the side tomorrow," he said.

My mind cleared in an instant. I was to captain my country in an international, and never mind that it was a friendly, because we still take them very seriously. If any player had any doubt about that, Kerr's speech to the squad would have left him certain of their importance. Remember that they are caps, and when Kerr awarded last season's during the evening, he urged upon us the pride we should feel.

"Medals are proudly displayed on the TV," he said, "but after a while are moved to the spare room, then a box and finally shunted into the attic. Caps cannot be like that. Every single one is an honour and must be cherished." Covet each one because it may be the last and have pride were the sentiments he tried to convey to us.

Well the latest one for me was my debut as skipper and one of the proudest moments of my career. I would love to continue doing it, but Kerr has publicly stated that he has not yet chosen a permanent captain. However, even if this is my only time it will always be a massive moment.

And to win was perfect because we need to develop some momentum before next month's crucial qualifiers in Georgia and Albania. It has certainly helped that a lot of the lads worked with Kerr in the youth squads, and therefore his appointment has ensured an element of continuity.

In fact he picked much the same squad that Mick McCarthy would have, so apart from the different slant concerning Roy Keane in press conferences and a different coaching staff, it was business as usual. Chris Hughton, an excellent coach, has been brought in as an assistant and another Brian, Brian The Video, has come in to study all the opposition on tapes, but the biggest change has been the depth of analysis that Kerr demands. The tapes were used to study Scotland's favourite free-kicks and corners. How they try to build from the back. Who they try and get on the ball most frequently. What channels they attack down. What areas they swamp. We did tapes and videos before, but not so exhaustively.

Even individual players are thoroughly examined. The detail is huge but could give us an advantage and seems to be an important aspect of Kerr's coaching. Brian The Video has certainly got his work cut out in the next few weeks! As for Keane, he has retired so that is the end of it. A great player, undoubtedly the best we have ever had, but he won't be in Georgia or Albania and they are our most immediate issues.

Ipswich's in contrast are slightly different and very worrying. Administration, whether voluntary or final, is an unpleasant experience for all involved, I know that from my time at Bournemouth, and I am sure it will become a feature of football news in the coming months.

Because I was away in Scotland I missed the meetings at Portman Road, and from what I can gather there have been a few: the chairman, David Sheepshanks, with the players, the players with the PFA and naturally the players among themselves.

Because of this I have arranged a full meeting with Sheepshanks tomorrow and I will contact the PFA too. Initially I was stunned, but I don't know the full facts. The questions I want to ask, though, are exactly the same as any employee would. Will we get paid? What is the viable future of the club? And what plans have the board to secure the future? I am fully aware that the economic climate has changed across all industries, not just football, but I do not know the extent of the debts, revenue or viability. That I will find out tomorrow. What I do know is that we need to get into the play-offs and through them the Premiership. The play-offs will generate money that is desperately needed and promotion will at least guarantee short-term stability and survival.

I suppose we could say that the players have to win matches and push the club onwards and upwards out of the mire. We are paid well so we must take responsibility and the board must work alongside the administrator, a job that will be made a little easier with every win.

It does seem, however, that the cost base must be attacked and that means wages. This is not specific to Ipswich but across the sport in general, with a few obvious exceptions. The boom times are definitely over and everyone involved, managers, players, boards of directors and agents, have to realise that for the benefit of the game.

Interesting that two of the three relegated clubs are in administration, Leicester and ourselves, and the third, Derby, are said to be hanging on by a thread. Let us hope those who suffer this May will be better prepared.

Matt Holland was talking to Iain Fletcher