O’Neillin IFAtalks overnew £4mdeal
MICHAEL O’NEILL is set to meet Irish FA officials today to discuss their offer of a new six-year contract to keep him as Northern Ireland manager – and away from Scotland’s grasp.
O’Neill, the SFA’s No.1 target to replace Gordon Strachan, revealed in Record Sport yesterday he would hold talks with his current employers about a long-term deal that would run until the 2024 European Championships and earn him over £4million.
Former Brechin boss O’Neill has been a huge success for his home country, taking Northern Ireland to the Euro 2016 finals – their first major tournament in 30 years – plus the World Cup play-off and the IFA are determined to keep him.
The SFA will have to match that commitment to begin official talks with O’Neill by agreeing to pay £500,000 compensation to the IFA if successful in their bid to appoint him.
O’Neill, whose current deal runs until 2020, revealed while he’d be happy to speak to interested parties if contract conditions were met he could still end up staying with Northern Ireland.
The IFA are confident they can see off Scotland but a Premier League or top English Championship side may be different.
They would love O’Neill to agree to their new deal this side of Christmas but will not rush the man who has options and is very much in the box seat.