By Brian McMahon
Reports in many of today’s tabloids are claiming that Mick McCarthy may quit his post as Republic of Ireland boss after the World Cup this summer, if negotiations over his new contract do not reach a satisfactory conclusion.
McCarthy has been offered a reported €400,000 a year over four years by the FAI, but that figure would be dwarfed by what McCarthy could command as a Premiership manager.
The Irish manager’s agent, Liam Gaskin, is due to hold further talks with FAI chiefs in Dublin this Tuesday to try and resolve the impasse before McCarthy’s contract expires at midnight on Thursday, leaving him free to negotiate with English clubs thereafter.
There have been reports of interest from Aston Villa and Newcastle United in McCarthy’s availability should contract talks fail and such high profile moves might well prove too tempting for McCarthy, who has made no secret in the past of his desire to return to club management someday.
The situation has been met with widespread confusion and bewilderment, as the FAI appear to be risking losing the man who has promised a bumper financial year for their coffers after steering the national side to this year’s upcoming World Cup Finals in Japan and Korea.