Martin O'Neill has insisted that he did not 'prostitute' himself trying to convince Aston Villa youngster Jack Grealish to represent the Republic of Ireland.
The 20-year-old was eligible for both Ireland and England, but last week he opted to pledge allegiance to the Three Lions.
Grealish, who played Under-21 football with Ireland, had several conversations with O'Neill, while he and his father Kevin were also invited to visit the squad on a number of occasions.
"I never chased Jack Grealish at all," Sky Sports News quotes O'Neill as saying. "I never prostituted myself in any way, shape or form trying to get Jack Grealish.
"I think Jack Grealish and his father would readily admit that. In fact, actually I was accused of the other thing, of not chasing it up, so I didn't do that.
"Jack Grealish had a decision to make. Jack Grealish was born in England, his father was born in England and therefore he made a decision to play in England, so that's it."
The Villa youngster was not included in Roy Hodgson's England squad for Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania this week.
Danielle Joynson
