Despite reports in the British media that manager Lee Carsley has rejected a four-year deal, the FAI is adamant there are no offers for the Republic of Ireland manager.
Carsley, 49, who is currently England Under-21 manager, was approached in early 2023 but was forced to step away from the job at the end of last year.
But this week, Packie Bonner joined FAI director of football Mark Canham and chief executive Jonathan Hill in London to meet potential successors to Stephen Kenny. Betting has been temporarily suspended.
The FAI board met on Tuesday and Mr Canham and Mr Hill were expected to present one name for ratification ahead of the Nations League draw in Paris on February 8.
Carsley, who has 40 caps for Ireland, is thought to be in talks with the FAI, but no formal approach has been made to the English FA, where he has a rolling contract. The former Everton midfielder could replace Gareth Southgate as England manager after Euro 2024.
Kenny’s contract was not extended after Ireland finished fourth behind France, Netherlands and Greece in the European Championship qualification, losing all six of their home and away matches. A backdoor to this summer’s Euros via the play-offs in March was denied by a similarly poor result in the 2022 Nations League.
The FAI is looking to modernize the position and rebrand it as ‘Head Coach’, reporting directly to Canham.
Kearsley fits the bill perfectly. He led England to the Under-21 European title last summer and was interim manager at Coventry City, Brentford and Birmingham City between 2013 and 2017, despite his brief foray into club management. expertise and knowledge of the Irish system was recognized as having benefited. .
The FAI is thought to be offering €640,000 a year, while the estimated average salary for an EFL Championship manager is €1 million. Mr Carsley’s reported refusal to work in Ireland does not appear to have been financially motivated. The association intends to pay the new manager’s salary without any external help, even though he is in debt of 50.9 million euros until 2023.
If the Carsley ship leaves Irish waters, the focus will switch to Neil Lennon and Anthony Barry.
Former Northern Ireland international Lennon is now bookmakers’ favorite to win after his odds were reduced on Friday. He has an impressive track record in club football, guiding Glasgow Celtic to five of a possible seven league titles in his two spells as manager. Barry is a highly regarded young coach who assisted Kenny’s Ireland throughout 2021 and is currently working alongside the likes of Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich and Roberto Martinez with the Portugal national team.
Roy Keane has also expressed interest despite not having coached since spending six months at Nottingham Forest in 2019. His last managerial job at Ipswich Town ended in 2011.
“It’s fascinating to me,” Keene said on the Stick to Football YouTube show. “He enjoyed the dynamic when he was coaching the Irish team.” [under Martin O’Neill]. That may also be an option. ”
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