REPUBLIC OF IRELAND striker Kevin Doyle has today expressed his support for Wexford Youths’ owner Mick Wallace who is running in next week’s general election.

Wallace is standing as an independent candidate in the five-seat Wexford constituency, a decision which he announced live on-air during an appearance on Tonight with Vincent Browne ten days ago.

A builder and political activist, he is best known for posting political messages on his building sites’ hoardings, memorably displaying a banner denouncing the Nice Treaty and the US invasion of Iraq in Dublin’s city centre.

Prior to embarking on his professional career, Doyle spent three years playing for Wexford Youths. Since moving on, he has retained close links with Wallace and the club, and was instrumental in arranging a friendly between the amateur outfit and Premiership side Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2009.

In a statement released today by Wallace’s campaign team, the Irish star wished him every success in the general election campaign, commenting that “Mick is a great man” and that “I wouldn’t be where I am today without his help.”

I know he’s running for election and I’m not politically minded in anyway but I wish him all the best. If he puts the same effort in that he did getting lads to play soccer and trying to give them confidence to play well [...], then I’m sure he’ll be a great politician.

Bookmakers have given Wallace an excellent chance of winning one of the constituency’s five seats, with one firm offering odds as low as 10/11 that he will be elected.