IFA expect more interest in boss O’Neill despite their mega offer

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O’Neill has always been honest enough to disclose that he will speak to other national associations or clubs interested in him if they agree to the conditions in his current deal.

To open discussions with O’Neill, the Scottish FA, for instance, must agree to pay the IFA £500,000 in compensation if O’Neill leaves the Green and White Army for the Tartan Army, while the figure for an English Premier League outfit would be £750,000.

It’s worth noting, however, that O’Neill says that holding talks would not mean his spell in charge of Northern Ireland would necessarily end.

West Bromwich Albion were keen on O’Neill but opted to appoint Alan Pardew as the successor to Tony Pulis last month, while Sunderland recruited Welsh boss Chris Coleman after receiving little encouragement from the ex-Newcastle player who topped their shortlist.

IFA officials would be surprised if more clubs don’t come in for the ex-Shamrock Rovers supremo, who has shown with Northern Ireland how with tactical awareness and superb man-management skills he can lift a group of players to continually punch above their weight.

On this day in 2011, O’Neill was announced as the new boss by the IFA having beaten ex-teammates Jim Magilton and Iain Dowie to the job.

The IFA would see it as an even greater success if he were to sign what would be the longest and most lucrative contract of his reign.