Mick McCarthy yesterday confirmed that he hopes to stay on as Republic of Ireland boss for another two years before seeking to try his hand at top level club management in the premiership.

"Irrespective of what happens in these play-offs or after that, I'd like to take the team through to the European Championship finals in Portugal in 2004," he said. "We'll be top seeds for the qualifiers, I think that's something that the players and myself have earned, and I think we will have a group of lads that are capable of becoming an even stronger team together."

The 42-year-old, who took over the Irish reins from Jack Charlton at the start of 1996, added he "loved" his current role and hoped he could reach an agreement with the FAI that would keep him in the post as soon as his current contract expires in February.

The fact that the team remain unbeaten at home in competitive games under him and have steadily reclimbed the world ranking ladder over the past couple of years has won over the majority of his detractors. And following the defeat of The Netherlands there were virtually unanimous calls for him to be offered a new deal.

"After the Holland game there was a lot of talk about a new contract but my own preference would be for us all to see out the present deal before we sit down to talk again. It could be that we will lose these play-offs against Iran and people will be disappointed and want to see a change. If that's the case then I would certainly understand that, although I think I would move on believing that I left whoever comes in after me in a very strong position to move forward.

"But if we do qualify for the World Cup, and I know that's a very big if because I have an lot of respect for Iran, my hope would be to build on the success over the couple of years that follow."

His remarks follow a period of sustained speculation about McCarthy moving to an English club. During the summer he was strongly linked with the then- vacant Manchester City job, where it is believed he would have earned more than three times the £200,000 or so the FAI pay him.

In the longer term, McCarthy admitted he still hoped to manage at the highest level of British club football. "Going straight from Millwall to the Ireland job meant I skipped that level of things out and I do still hope to work in the Premiership.

"For the moment, though, that's something that I'd be happy to put on the long finger for just a little bit longer."