Interviews for O’neill’s successor start today

The Irish Football Association is to commence interviewing candidates – including Tommy Wright – to replace Michael O’neill as Northern Ireland manager.

Discussions are due to take place today and tomorrow, with under-21 manager Ian Baraclough, Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson, Jim Magilton, and Wright – the bookies’ favourite for the Dundee United job – all put forward as candidates.

Wright left St Johnstone in early May, while Magilton is already part of the Irish FA set-up as the elite performance director.

The chosen man will take over a side two games away from qualifying for next summer’s delayed Euro 2020 finals.

O’neill became Stoke boss in November and spent six months balancing the demands of club and country, but stepped down in April after the coronavirus pandemic led to the delay of their Euro 2020 qualifying play-off until October.

Northern Ireland are due to travel to Zenica to face Bosnia on October 8, with the winner facing either the Republic of Ireland or Slovakia for a place in the finals on November 12.

Those games will come after Northern Ireland open their Nations League campaign away to Romania on September 4.

Courier Sport this week revealed that Saints legend Wright is open to offers from United to become their next boss.

However, if the Tangerines do want the Scottish Cup-winning manager then they may have to make a change to how things are run behind the scenes.

The 56-year-old is used to a more hands-on role in recruitment and the day-today running of the club than Neilson, on the face of it, had at Tannadice.

It appears the responsibility of the next appointment rests on the shoulders of United sporting director Tony Asghar.

Picture: SNS. Tommy Wright is bookies’ favourite.