Report: Mick McCarthy offered contract by the FAI

Numerous reports have indicated that former Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy is set to return as Republic of Ireland manager.

The FAI parted ways with manager Martin O'Neill and assistant Roy Keane on Wednesday bringing an end to their five year tenure with the national team. Reports surfaced on Thursday suggesting that former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was flying over to Dublin this weekend to discuss the job and Sky Sports, Virign Media News, the Irish Examiner and the Sun are all reporting that the pursuit for McCarthy has just about been finalised. https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1066023218971058176 https://twitter.com/VirginMediaNews/status/1066024620036431874 McCarthy previously managed the Republic of Ireland team between 1996 and 2002 and helped guide Ireland to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals where they were defeated by Spain on penalties in the round of 16. The Sun are reporting that former England manager Sam Allardyce will make his interest in the role known to the FAI while Brighton manager Chris Hughton and Hibernian manager Neil Lennon have both distanced themselves from the role. Lennon has said that he is flattered by the offer but has not heard from the FAI about the role.

"Look it is just speculation. I am flattered if there is a link but I have not seen anything or heard anything regarding myself," Lennon said ahead of Saturday's visit of Dundee. "All I have been doing is concentrating on us getting back into form because that is important."

Meanwhile Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny put forward his case to take over the Irish team, which was supported by League of Ireland club St. Patrick's Athletic, in an interview with The Irish Times' Emmet Malone where he outlines the style of football he would try and implement should he assume the role.

"Do I think that I could take charge of the next generation of Irish players and turn them into a really cohesive team; combining the best virtues of Irish sides – the honesty, work-rate and passion that we’ve shown down the years – but introducing a more European style of play, a more fluid and expansive way? Yes, I do."

"But it's the way I view the game and I think it’s the way a lot of players love to play the game. "Midfield players love to be able to join in, to receive in on the half-turn, link with their front players, there must be movement off the line from wide players, full backs overlapping, connections..."