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The Football Association of Ireland are once again hoping to persuade top candidate Lee Carsley to quit his role with England Under-21s and become senior manager of the Irish team.
The highly-regarded coach initially resisted the role when it was first offered to him late last year, but has now accepted the new role, although there is still some way to go before it is close to a deal. It is understood that he is positive about the role. Football Association sources have downplayed talk that Carsley is expected to be announced as Ireland manager next week, and it is understood that no formal approach has been made to him.
Nevertheless, the 49-year-old’s contract allows him to speak freely with suitors without any problems regarding compensation. An Irish delegation traveled to the UK last week to meet candidates, and Roy Keane recently indicated he would be open to the role.
Carsley once again emerged as the standout candidate from the three-man selection committee, although there remains much praise for former Ireland assistant and current Bayern Munich manager Anthony Barry.
The committee is led by director of football Mark Canham, and is advised by chief executive Jonathan Hill and former boss Packie Bonner. Canham prefers progressive managers who evolve the national team’s style of play, and both Carsley and Barry would fit this profile. He is preferred to continue thinking as a director of football at the moment, although names such as Chris Hughton and Neil Lennon have also been floated. Much may depend on availability.
Carsley had dual citizenship and won 40 caps for Ireland. He has received great praise in the English football world, having won last summer’s European U-21 Championship, and is being talked about as a potential successor to Gareth Southgate. But with uncertainty as to when that will be, Ireland hope to capitalize on his desire to step into the top role immediately.
I feel like he has the ability to work well with a young group of burgeoning talents like Evan Ferguson.