Former Celtic and Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill held talks with FAI headhunters Ray Houghton and Ruud Dokter earlier this week with Blues boss Mick McCarthy due to speak to them next week, according to reports in Ireland.

O’Neill, now the favourite with some bookmakers after his odds shortened significantly yesterday, was meeting Houghton and Dokter for the second time, the Irish Examiner reports, but has yet to firm up his interest in the job.

It’s believed that the 61-year-old former Northern Ireland international has been considering whether to enter international management or look for another domestic club and it’s reported that he has recently rebuffed interest from an unnamed side.

McCarthy, 54, is reportedly set to hold talks with the Houghton and Dokter on Monday, although we understand the Blues are still to receive any contact from the FAI with Town having to give permission for discussions to take place. The Blues boss is said to be the last man the pair plan to speak to.

Former Town manager Roy Keane is also still believed to be to be on what’s generally regarded to be a three-man short-list, although other candidates may still be considered. However, Dutchman Guus Hiddink, who has been viewed as another potential target, is reportedly not in the running.

If McCarthy were to leave the Blues for Ireland, it’s expected that he would take his assistant Terry Connor and scouts Dave Bowman and Ian Evans, who both worked with him during his previous spell as Irish boss, while Town U21 coach Mark Kennedy could also join his staff.

Meanwhile, former Ireland international Kevin Kilbane, who backs McCarthy for the job, says he has sympathy with the Town manager’s current position: “It must be so difficult for Mick.

“He’s preparing his team every week at Ipswich. I was in there with the BBC the other week and you hear the questions — he’s getting asked about the job and it’s got to be difficult for him.

“He’s in a difficult position — if he is targeted, you should be going to get him. But it puts people in difficult positions with the length of this process that’s in place.

“Mick’s the prime example of that. He’s going to get questions about it until a decision is made. I understand they’ve probably got to touch all bases, but if they want Mick they should do it now.”

Photo: Action Images

Bluetone added 10:11 - Oct 25 If Mick does have talks with the headhunters next week and isn't offered the Eire job there will still be a huge question-mark over his commitment to Town.
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Wickets added 10:25 - Oct 25 Bluetone sorry to be so blunt but get in the real world.
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Bluetone added 10:28 - Oct 25 @ Wickets Not at all if this one isn't offered to him what happens when the next big job comes along and for that matter what constitutes a big job in his mind?
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Benters added 10:35 - Oct 25 boo this sucks
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Clemcc added 10:47 - Oct 25 One the flip side of the coin, MM could have just been nosey and seeing that the FAI are offering, and not actually wanting that the job. I hope he stays!
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Michael11 added 10:59 - Oct 25 To be honest, i'm at the point of beyond caring. I'd love Mick to stay but if he wants the job and he's offered it then thank you and all the best. I think Ireland have dealt with all of this terribly too.
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howdonblue added 11:15 - Oct 25 Difficult "my arse " just bloody well come clean mm! Then we can move on .
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itfcserbia added 11:39 - Oct 25 To be honest, I do think that Mick secretly wants the Ireland job. And who can blame him, his country's team manager position probably his dream job. I do hope though that ME is looking for his replacement already, just to be sure. They're all professionals so I don't think there will be some lack of commitment on either side if he stays, but business is business and the club should be our priority.

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Kesgraveblue57 added 12:19 - Oct 25 What ever happens in this saga McCarthy comes out very badly in this whole matter
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JimmyJazz added 12:41 - Oct 25 What other big jobs do you see MM being offered Bluetone? Man Utd when they finally sack Moyes? MM is only likely to be offered something like Palace or Leeds that he might consider big jobs (Palace as indicative of a struggling team in the Prem), Leeds because that was his team growing up.
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Blue041273 added 12:50 - Oct 25 ITFCSerbia MM has never made a secret of his desire to manage on the international stage again. It has been widely reported that his contract when he joined us contained a release clause if the FAI came calling. It has also been widely reported that MM agreed to the removal of this clause during the summer. This now entitles the club to compensation should MM leave for another job before the end of his contract. The obvious conclusion is that MM was being lined up for the Irish job even before he came to Ipswich. MM came here to do one thing and one thing only; to save us from relegation. This he did and presumably was handsomely rewarded for this achievement. We are now in a second and different phase of his management of the club. The bottom line is that if MM indicates to ME that he wants the Ireland job, he will be gone with only compensation to be agreed. Whatever the outcome suggestions that MM has been dishonest or disloyal are risible.

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Mr_Evans added 12:50 - Oct 25 Itfcserbia - MM is an Englishman, he's not irish. I do think Eire and MM can handled this poorly, he clearly would like the job because he hasn't ruled himself out. He has used the media to express his interests however, we all knew MM would go back to Eire before he even got the job here.
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mutters added 12:56 - Oct 25 @Mr_Evans Check out Micks Wikipedia page, you might discover his real nationality!
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itfcserbia added 13:05 - Oct 25 Blue041273 - I guess you're right. It's not that of a secret desire. Still, who can blame him? Mr_Evans - he might be Barnsley born, but he played 50+ games for Ireland and have you ever listened to his banter? I'm pretty sure he feels Irish. :)
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Popeye added 13:09 - Oct 25 I agree that MM has not been respectful to club and the fans and he has handled the speculation badly. He has not come out and said he's not interested so he is fanning the flames. He's either definitely interested or on an ego trip and just wants to be asked so he can turn it down and stick two fingers up at the FAI for getting rid of him before. Bit unusual for a man known for his straight honest opinions. We put the clause in his contract which he wanted so there was a get out of jail card if Town had been relegated but that has now expired and he has a contract until 2015 and he should honour it. The FAI were probably aware if this and should have approached about the job then. I doubt very much whether the FAI could afford the compensation for MM, TC and the rest of his staff and their wages from the £1 million that a rich benefactor has given towards it.

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ChrisMakin2012 added 13:18 - Oct 25 He'd be stupid not to take the ireland job
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 13:22 - Oct 25 This is a bad deal all round. I can't really understand what is so attractive about the Ireland job: Very average side with not much prospect of improvement in the near future. Losing our whole unit (TC+ scouts) would be almost worse than MM going just at present. We need to get this sorted quickly one way or the other. If MM does go, he drops in my estimation quite a bit for not seeing his new job through - but he hasn't left yet. Holloway, mooted by some, would certainly be a different kettle of fish, but no change at all is best for us at the moment.

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Bluetone added 13:23 - Oct 25 @ Jimmy Jazz to re-state part of my posting "for that matter what constitutes a big job in his mind?" It's not what I think is a big (or bigger) job it is what McCarthy considers to be a big (or bigger) job.
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Blue041273 added 13:55 - Oct 25 Popeye Get real. Ipswich did not put a release clause in a manager's contract ' as a "get out of jail" card if Town had got relegated'. Clubs do not put release clauses into manager's contracts; they simply fire them. Managers are the ones who insist on such terms to protect their own interests. But your point about the viability of compensation for MM and his staff is a good one. MO'N being unemployed currently is a much cheaper option.

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Taricco_Fan added 14:11 - Oct 25 With 24 teams qualifying for Euro 2016 in France, McCarthy must fancy Ireland's chances of qualifying and another chance to manage at a major tournament. I can't blame him really, but I'm not sure the continued speculation is good for the club.
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marcus139 added 15:07 - Oct 25 Is Mick still staying at the nice hotel on the waterfront? I saw Mr Clegg leave there this morning before speeding off in his nice new Jag. Not saying the two are linked however!
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jas0999 added 16:25 - Oct 25 One way or the other I just hope this gets sorted soon. This is an unwelcome disruption. Also, am very bored of it all now!
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martleshamitfc added 21:47 - Oct 25 Agree this is dragging on and must be disruptive to the players. I seriously hope MM stays, but tonight Middlesbrough have gone above Town in the league, having just sacked there manager for a poor start to the season! Just an observation to put it in place that we are really only a mid-table side at the best at the moment.
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tractorboyz82 added 22:38 - Oct 25 I'm fed up get in the taxi mm and go I'd like a new manager one that plays wingers and attacks not sit back a plays for a point don't get me wrong we're solid at the back because of mick but that's it
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