O'Neill linked to Republic job
Martin O’Neill is understood to be emerging as the leading candidate officials within the Football Association of Ireland would like to see succeed Brian Kerr as national team manager.
In the wake of Ireland’s failure to qualify for the World Cup finals, the 10-man board of management at the FAI are expected to officially inform Kerr next week they will not be renewing his contract.
At a meeting at present scheduled for Wednesday, it appears a three-man sub-committee comprising chief executive John Delaney, president David Blood and secretary Michael Cody will be asked to draw up a shortlist of viable replacements.
Given the prestige of the position, it is unsurprising figures such as the calibre of David O’Leary, Bobby Robson, Alex Ferguson and O’Neill are being linked.
The Association, though, are counting the cost of failure as they would have made in excess of €5m if the team had reached the finals in Germany.
It means the purse-strings have to be kept reasonably tight, and is the reason why, even if they could sweet talk bookmakers’ favourite O’Leary out of his stance that international management is “later down the road”, there is no way they could afford him.
O’Leary only signed a lucrative new three-year contract with Villa in the summer, which would lead to the FAI having to pay considerable compensation, as well as a salary close to the £1.5million he is believed to be earning.
Such a figure is comfortably beyond the reach of the FAI as Kerr earned £350,000 per year.
O’Leary again reiterated today he has unfinished business at club level as he said: “I want to get rid of the day-to-day stuff, and there’s a lot more of that in me yet.
“My name will not be thrown into the hat. I want to do club football for a long time.
“Only later, if I had a chance to do international football with my country, would I be interested.
“I just hope whatever they do over there is right for everybody because the fans are absolutely brilliant.”
Former England and Newcastle manager Robson certainly has the experience, although at the age of 72 any appointment only has short-term value, and would have to be in harness with a younger understudy.
A ’dream-team’ of Manchester United manager Ferguson and captain Roy Keane has also been mooted, yet cold water is understood to have been poured on that idea.
Inspirational midfielder Keane only recently made it clear management is a long way down the road, and that he has not yet finished his playing career, with the 34-year-old expected to join Celtic in the summer when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Another possibility is Kerr’s assistant Chris Hughton, respected and a strong figure on the training ground, however, the Tottenham coach may well be tarnished by association.
Certainly top of the FIA’s list when it comes to characteristics for the new manager will be persuasive, forthright, man-management skills, for which O’Neill is undoubtedly renowned.
The big question mark over the former Celtic manager is the health of wife Geraldine as O’Neill only stepped down at Parkhead in the summer after five successful seasons to care for her as she has cancer.
Although the international beat is appreciably less time-consuming than the day-to-day demands of club level, it is not known whether O’Neill could successfully combine both duties.
O’Leary, meanwhile, has expressed his bitter disappointment at seeing Ireland bow out of the World Cup at sch an early stage.
“I saw Wednesday’s game and I was sad coming away from Lansdowne Road because between 30,000 and 40,000 brilliant fans will be missing out on Germany,” said O’Leary.
“All that green and atmosphere will be missing, and I felt sorry for them.
“They are a fantastic bunch of fans as they do not cause any problems. They go tohave a good time, cheer on their team and make the most of the environment.”
