Martin O'Neill confirms contract agreed to stay on as Ireland manager

The Ireland managerial saga looks to be close to an end after Martin O'Neill confirmed he has reached agreement with the FAI to continue on as manager.

 

The association had originally announced back in October, before the play-off defeat to Denmark, that O'Neill and CEO John Delaney had agreed terms for a new deal.

 

However the past week has seen the Derryman interviewed for the vacant managerial job at Stoke City – since filled by Paul Lambert – while a contract remains unsigned.

 

O'Neill may have work to do to get the fans back on side after November's spectacular collapse against the Danes and the subsequent flirtation with the English Premier League side.

 

And the status of O'Neill's assistant Roy Keane – who is understood to have been part of Stoke's offer to him – remains unclear at this stage.

 



In a video released on the FAI's own social media channels, O'Neill confirmed that the terms of a contract have now been thrashed out and a deal will be signed soon.

 

“That's been resolved,” said O'Neill.

 

“John [Delaney] and I have agreed terms and it's just a matter of the lawyers looking over some sort of detail and getting it signed up.”

 



It's a source of relief to the association that they've got a deal done ahead of the draw for the UEFA Nations League next week.

 

The Nations League could potentially provide an alternative route to the Euro 2020 finals (where Ireland would meet Spain) should they fail to progress from their qualifying group.

 

“The European Nations draw is an interesting one. It's coming up very quickly and it's taking place before the Euros in itself.

 

“I think not everyone is absolutely au fait with the ruling about it, but suffice to say these games are pretty important (see Macdara Ferris' thorough explainer here).

 

“First things first, the draw will be quite exciting, and then the games taking place at the start of next season as it were.

 

“We've got a couple of friendly games coming up and it might just be the time to introduce some younger players who are pretty hungry and let's see how that goes.”