Thursday 18 January 2018 06:48, UK
Stoke are not the first team to approach Martin O'Neill since he became Republic of Ireland manager, according to FAI chief executive John Delaney.
Sky sources understand Stoke had discussions with O'Neill about replacing Mark Hughes following his sacking, but the Republic boss turned them down in order to stay with Ireland.
Delaney said O'Neill informed him he was going to speak to the Premier League side, but insisted he was confident his manager would stay in place.
He said: "It's not the first approach that has been made to Martin since he became Republic of Ireland manager. He will explain every piece of that next Wednesday at the Nations League draw.
"He rang me to tell me he was meeting Stoke, but there was nothing in the phone call that indicated he was going to go to Stoke.
"I would have felt from that call he was going to stay managing the Republic of Ireland.
"After he met Stoke, he rang to say he had respectfully declined the Stoke offer and he would be staying with the Republic of Ireland."
O'Neill verbally agreed to remain as Ireland manager towards the end of 2017, but then cast doubt on his future following their defeat to Denmark in the World Cup play-offs.
The situation was clarified on Tuesday when O'Neill confirmed he had agreed a deal to remain as Ireland manager.
Delaney admitted O'Neill took time to consider his position as Ireland boss, saying: "From our point of view, we had offered and agreed with him last October he would stay on.
"There's no doubt the Denmark game was a blow - it was a really disappointing night. I think Martin took some time to reflect on what he would do.
"He obviously met with people who were interested in employing him. But ultimately he's an Irish man who wanted to manage Ireland and he's staying."
