The FAI are prepared to offer Martin O’Neill and his assistant Roy Keane a new two-year contract, irrespective of the faltering nature of Ireland’s World Cup campaign.
O’Neill’s deal expires at the end of this qualification campaign, which could potentially be as soon as next month, following Ireland’s game against Wales on October 9.
Yet even if Ireland do finish outside the play off places, a senior FAI source made it plainly clear yesterday that the ten-man board consider the O’Neill-Keane partnership to be a ticket to success.
Keane and O’Neill have been in charge of Ireland since 2013
RYAN BYRNE/INPHO
“You have to put things in perspective,” the source said. “There have been lots of injuries in this campaign, to Séamus [Coleman] of course, but also to others, James McCarthy, Jeff Hendrick. The side has lost once.