FAI are facing €3m payout if they axe under-fire O’Neill

THE FAI would have to pay a figure in the region of €3m to dispense with the services of Martin O’Neill, Roy Keane and the rest of the Republic’s coaching team.

But the under-fire manager expects to be given the opportunity to qualify for Euro 2020 — and he has promised he will bring Ireland to that competition because of his managerial skill.

“Because I’m good,” was the Derryman’s response when asked why he was so confident the Republic would advance. He was speaking after Tuesday night’s loss to Wales which all but confirmed his side will start regular qualifying as third seeds.

Their record of five competitive games without a win is their worst run since the last days of Steve Staunton’s troubled tenure in 2007. O’Neill and his team are under contract until interest in Euro 2020 ends, and a pay-off of a year’s salary would cost the FAI close to €3m.

The 66-year old said no discussions had taken place with the FAI about whether Nations League results would affect him. He remains convinced he is the right man for the job and repeated the phrase ‘I will win’ on a number of occasions in a bullish daily newspaper briefing — stressing that a full-strength squad would deliver next year.

“We’ll have people ready for the games and I’ll be ready and we’ll go through, simple as that,” declared O’Neill.