IRELAND BOSS MARTIN O’Neill has dropped his biggest hint yet that he plans to remain in the job after the current qualification campaign — regardless of the outcome.
The Boys in Green need to win their final two qualifiers, at home to Moldova tomorrow night and in Cardiff against Wales on Monday, to have any chance of securing a play-off spot for next year’s World Cup finals.
Having officially renewed their deals last September, O’Neill and his management team, who took over in November 2013, are contracted with the FAI to the end of this two-year cycle.
And speaking at this afternoon’s pre-match press conference, the 65-year-old has revealed that he would like to extend his stay after holding discussions with the association’s chief executive John Delaney.
“I think there’s a willingness on both sides [agree a new deal],” O’Neill said. “I had a conversation with John not so very long ago and he would like me to continue. I certainly would be looking forward to it.”
Dublin is one of 13 cities chosen to host a revamped Euro 2020 in three years’ time, and the Derry man suggested that he intends to be in charge for that competition.
I don’t think today is the day to discuss it but I must admit that with some of the Euros games in Dublin, there are exciting times ahead,” he added.
“We’ve looked at the fact that there are some young players coming through — when I say ‘young players’ I’m talking about mid-20s — who will hopefully take on the mantle of the older players when they drop out of the squad. So I think there is much to look forward to.”
Asked if he feels the current regime have been successful regardless of what happens over the next four days, O’Neill replied:
“Well we qualified for a competition — one out of one. I think the season tickets have gone from 4,000 when we started to 16,000 so there is some evidence that we’re doing okay.
“We did qualify for the Euros, we’re still in the mix for this one so at the minute it’s not too bad.”
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