CRUNCH TIME
O’Neill will talk to Regan today over Scotland manager’s job
MICHAEL O’NEILL will finally meet with Stewart Regan today as the SFA chief executive attempts to convince his No1 target that his future lies with Scotland.
After regular contact between Regan and the Northern Ireland manager’s representatives, the meeting is the next crucial step in negotiations which are still hanging in the balance.
On the table is a deal to make O’Neill the highest-paid Scotland boss in history. The man who led Northern Ireland to the 2016 European Championships — and the 2018 World Cup play-offs — would still make more money by signing a new IFA contract reportedly worth £1million a year until 2024.
But the fact that O’Neill wants to talk to Regan, despite the SFA being unable to match such largesse, will be seen by many as grounds for optimism.
Regan will attempt to make a footballing case for the Edinburgh-based coach swapping
Windsor Park for Hampden, stressing the upside for any manager who actually gets Scotland back to a major finals for the first time since the 1998 World Cup. With the Euro 2020 finals offering Scotland the potential bonus of two group games at Hampden and a clash with England, there is plenty to play for. Today’s talks are not expected to be conclusive — unless there is a firm and unshakeable ‘no’ from the former Brechin City and Shamrock Rovers boss. The SFA have already agreed to pay the IFA £500,000 in compensation for O’Neill if he jumps ship, a sign of their intent to get the deal done. The former Hibs and Dundee United player has been the first choice of Regan and the recruitment panel at Hampden almost since the moment of former boss Gordon Strachan’s departure. The 48-year-old has knocked back a number of high-profile job offers in recent weeks, suggesting he is either prepared to sign that new deal in Belfast — or has been saving himself for Scotland. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland will be sending delegations to Switzerland for the first ever UEFA Nations League draw next week. But there is no rush on the part of the SFA to get a deal done in order to have O’Neill in their travelling party, with legal niceties likely to delay an actual appointment even if a deal is struck.