Ireland’s new men’s team manager is likely to be recruited on a four-year contract until Euro 2028, the FAI have confirmed.
Jonathan Hill’s position as chief executive remains in jeopardy due to his involvement in receiving payments against company policy and which breached state conditions but he’s been immersed in talks with prospective new clients.
Director of Football Marc Canham is the prime headhunter.
He’s been scouring the market to source a successor to women’s team boss Vera Pauw, due to be unveiled next week, but the most attention is on who gets the nod to salvage the remnants of Stephen Kenny’s reign.
The man with the worst record in 50 years operated on an initial two-year deal that was renewed for the Euro 2024 campaign that recently ended in a fourth-place finish and not even entry into a playoff route through the Nations League.
That left Ireland outside the 32 nations who either qualified for the summer finals in Germany or are still in contention for a berth through the playoffs.
Hill confirmed during Saturday’s AGM that they held conversations with ‘everyone we want to speak to’ but later wouldn’t confirm if they’d sought permission from clubs or associations to interview personnel already in jobs.
Two former Ireland internationals, Lee Carsley, currently manager of European U21 champions and Ghana boss Chris Hughton, are favourites to land the vacancy.
Hill was adamant they won’t accept any external contributions – unlike the €12m received over an eight-year period until 2016 from Denis O’Brien to fund over half the salaries – but insists the annual wedge on offer, believed to be similar to the €560,000 paid to Kenny, will entice a suitable manager.
All the indications are that the vacancy
Read on irishexaminer.com