O’Neill ‘crazy’ to leave NI job

MICHAEL O’NEILL namechecked former Northern Ireland assistant coach Stephen Robinson when discussing his reluctance to dive headlong into the madness of club football.

O’Neill used Robinson’s plight at Oldham Athletic – where he was fired after just six months in January – and the sacking of Gary Rowett at Birmingham City weeks earlier to make the point. ‘What price happiness?’ though, asks Motherwell manager Robinson.

That’s why he always tells O’Neill that he would be ‘crazy’ to leave the love of Northern Ireland. ‘I can’t believe the English Premier League hasn’t called for Michael,’ said Robinson. ‘He deserves it.’