Carsley and Coleman out of running for Ireland job
The FAI’s search to land their suitable candidate could drag on with potential for a caretaker manager to be installed for the friendlies in late March.
It’s understood the headhunting team have conceded defeat in their quest to coax Lee Carsley from his England U21 post and other contenders such as Neil Lennon and Chris Coleman have been ruled out.
Ex-Wales manager Coleman was interviewed by the trio of Marc Canham, Jonathan Hill, and Packie Bonner but was never their preferred candidate.
Carsley retained that status from early on, even before Stephen Kenny’s contract wasn’t renewed in November, but a combination of factors has conspired against finalising a deal.
Hopes continued in recent weeks that an enhanced package would lure the ex-Ireland midfielder into the post he has always coveted but the timing and the terms weren’t to his ultimate satisfaction.
Carsley has been immersed in preparations, alongside his assistants Ashley Cole and Joleon Lescott, continuing the defence of their European crown with qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.
That’s the same week as Ireland hosts Belgium and Switzerland on March 23 and 26.
While Canham has contacted candidates who were on their original list of 12 to confirm their exclusion from the final reckoning, there is no successful candidate to be unveiled imminently.
For that to occur, a meeting of the expanded 14-person board must be convened in the first instance to approve contract terms and then ratify the recommendation of the chosen one by Canham.
The FAI’s director of football declined to rule out the prospect of having a temporary arrangement in place for the March games, not ideal given Hill declared a preference for Kenny’s successor to have been
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