Martin O'Neill open to extending Republic of Ireland deal
Thursday 12 November 2015 13:42, UK
Martin O'Neill has admitted he would be open to extending his contract as Republic of Ireland manager.
The 63-year-old is understood to have been offered an extension to the two-year deal he signed in November 2013, regardless of whether he steers the nation to the European Championship finals via a play-off double-header against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
O'Neill confirmed the Football Association of Ireland wanted him to stay, and that he was happy to talk to chief executive John Delaney about it.
He said: "Absolutely, I am open to it. We had a conversation after Scotland and John was very supportive, felt as if this is the way we want to go forward, and that was very pleasing to hear.
"We haven't really talked about it since, but I haven't been pressing because there are actually very important things to deal with.
Live Euro 2016 Qualifiers
"If we could qualify, that would be great and we would go on to France - I would be delighted to do that, if that's the case. But if we didn't qualify, John and myself will sit down and see where we go.
"I think John and the board would want it to continue and I have enjoyed it immensely. Sometime in the new year - probably the earlier, the better, maybe get Christmas out of the way - John and I would sit and have a discussion about it."
Skipper Robbie Keane backed O'Neill to carry on as boss, with he and Roy Keane on the brink of guiding the side to France next summer.
The Republic face Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica on Friday evening and then again in Dublin three days later in the Euro 2016 play-off.
The LA Galaxy striker said: "From the very, very start of the campaign, certainly as a group we have grown into it a lot more. It would be silly if the manager didn't get a new contract - he has obviously done a great job.
"But we certainly want to finish this campaign off now with qualification for France, because we started the campaign off having that goal in our minds and it would certainly be disappointing if we didn't do it."
O'Neill believes progress has been made during his tenure, but knows there is still work to be done with senior men Shay Given, John O'Shea and front man Keane approaching the end of their international careers.
He added: "There is a set of players here well into their thirties who need replacing - they will not mind me saying that - but we want to replace them with really top-quality younger players coming through who can take their place at international level almost immediately. That's important.
"In terms of progress, if we qualify, regardless of what people would say, that very obviously would be progression. But we will see."
O'Neill is still awaiting definitive news on Southampton striker Shane Long's foot problem and is yet to rule him out of the first leg, but Newcastle keeper Rob Elliot will not travel and Sunderland defender O'Shea, who is suspended for Friday night's game, is making progress.
Watch the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2016 play-off games against Bosnia and Herzegovina live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Friday night, and on Monday, November 16.
