Blues boss Mick McCarthy is increasingly viewed as the frontrunner to return to his old job as Ireland manager in reports in most of the Irish papers this morning. The FAI are understood to have stepped up their recruitment process and want their new boss in place prior to the friendlies with Hungary and Poland on November 15th and 19th.

McCarthy and Martin O’Neill are widely believed to be the only candidates currently in the FAI’s sights with the Irish Mirror claiming Town owner Marcus Evans has issued a “hands-off warning” to Ray Houghton and Ruud Dokter, the men charged with identifying Giovanni Trapattoni’s successor.

Yesterday, Town MD Ian Milne told TWTD that the Blues had received no contact from the FAI “that [he was] aware of”. Milne said that Town are keen to keep hold of the 54-year-old, who is contracted until the summer of 2015.

If the FAI were to firm up their interest then they would have to pay the Blues compensation, a clause allowing McCarthy to take the Ireland job without Town receiving recompense having ended at the start of the season.

While McCarthy, now the bookies’ favourite, is said to have his advocates at the FAI, O’Neill is also said to have his supporters, although it’s believed there are also those who have reservations about employing the Northern Irishman without John Robertson as his assistant.

The former Scotland winger - who is currently recovering from a heart attack - worked with his ex-Nottingham Forest team-mate at his more successful clubs, but not at his most recent side Sunderland.

There is also speculation that O’Neill, 61, may be holding out for a Premier League club, having been linked with Fulham and his old club Norwich in recent weeks.

When questioned about the vacancy last month McCarthy - who has stated he'd like to return to the job he held between 1996 and 2002 at some point in the future - said he expected O’Neill to be given the job, but admitted he didn’t know what his response would be if he were to be approached: “My understanding is that Martin’s got it. I’m not looking for it.

“I prefer to make my decisions when somebody [in charge] asks me the question, not a journalist. If somebody does ask me the question, what will I do? I haven’t got a bleeding clue.”

Photo: Action Images

tractorfact added 17:56 - Oct 17 Ive been saying he'd go for weeks its obvious Eire dont want O'Neill bye Mick shame though
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Keaneish added 18:17 - Oct 17 As Boring as the Taylor conversations... Roll on beating Burnley on Saturday!
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Taricco_Fan added 18:18 - Oct 17 No smoke without fire. This one keeps running.
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blue_moon09 added 18:24 - Oct 17 Must be a slow news week no transfer links so rubbish like this get spread all over the internet! its boring and a load of cobblers zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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fifeblue added 19:13 - Oct 17 Why on Earth would Norwich replace Hughton, a decent manager doing a good job, with a perenanial failure like Martin O'Neill? And he isn't in Martin Jol's class at all. But having said all that, I hope he gets the Ireland job because if Town lose McCarthy then it will be (yet) another rebuilding job at Ipswich. If Mick McCarthy stays then Ipswich will be promoted to the Premiership at the end of THIS SEASON. Ipswich are improving all the time and a far from their best yet. Only QPR are clearly better than us in this league. And we shall catch them.

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Elizabeth added 19:26 - Oct 17 That's that then ! He will go and we start all over again. Oh joy....
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billlm added 19:28 - Oct 17 tc is not a manager
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billlm added 19:30 - Oct 17 tc is not a manager
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shoopdelang added 19:37 - Oct 17 Wish MM would come out and rule himself out.
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hossblue added 19:39 - Oct 17 He will go and thanks for last season good luck.
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jas0999 added 20:05 - Oct 17 I hope he doesn't, but honestly believe MM will leave to be Eire manager. The disappointing lack of backing in the Summer will not have helped. MM signed some good players - but could have worked wonders with just a modest cash investment for fees.
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dubblue added 22:58 - Oct 17 A number of points 1. The search has not really started yet in the meantime just three names have been mentioned - O'Neill, McCarthy and Keane. There are question marks over O'Neill's interest (and doubts given Robertson's unavailability), Keane does not exactly see eye to eye with the FAI. Hence MC is favourite here in Ireland right now. 2. Cost will not be an issue, the FAI have a businessman backing them them - his salary will be lower than Trappatoni's so there is scope to pay Town compo. 3. MC would like to return to the manage Ireland, personally I think it should be towards the end of his career. the current Irish squad is not strong, but I think he will go if offered the job unless there is reason to stay i.e. some investment in the squad.

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dirtydingusmagee added 10:50 - Oct 18 very bad news IF he does go, he has been sorting things out at Town ,there is an air of optimsm ,lacking for several seasons now .It amazes and disapoints me to see people on here jumping in, suggesting people they feel should replace M M,almost willing him to go.The Irish team are not going anywhere, they have a limited squad, Mick would give it his best im sure but i think he would regret it .I ,like others,wish Mick would lay his cards on table [hopefully saying'' count me out ''. so players and supporters alike can consentrate on the progress of the Club.

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whittonite added 20:07 - Oct 18 in response to those who say t c couldn't take over because he is a coach,i think if you look at most of the top managers many of them were coaches at some stage. i could write a list but i'm pretty sure you can come up with as many names as me but one i will mention is mouriniho, who was brought through by bobby robson.it is not impossible it could happen!
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