Mick McCarthy says he expects favourite Martin O’Neill to be confirmed as the manager of the Republic of Ireland. The Blues boss, who previously held the role between 1996 and 2002, was amongst the other potential candidates linked with the position vacated by Giovanni Trapattoni earlier in the week.
McCarthy said it was no shock to him that he was mentioned in connection with the job: "I’m not surprised because I did a good job the last time, but Martin O’Neill’s getting the job as far as I’m aware, absolutely nailed on, a shoo-in for it.
"He’s ex-Celtic, he has his links there with everybody else and he’s out of work, and he’s a damn good manager. My understanding is that he’s got the job, so good luck to him, I’m delighted.”
The Town manager confirmed that he would be interested in a return to the role at some point in the future.
"I’ve been linked to it because of my success doing it in the past,” he said. "I’ve not courted it or fanned the flames of it at all and I’m not going to do it now.
"The last time that Giovanni Trapattoni was under pressure and they were asking ‘Do you fancy it?’, I said that he was still in the job. ‘Would you fancy it again?’. Yes, I would, at some stage.
"I’m not going to say not now because two years ago I said I’d fancy it some stage. But it’s not right, I’m loving doing what I’m doing, I’m under contract here.”
The Blues boss wasn't keen to discuss 'what ifs' should O'Neill not be appointed: "If Martin O’Neill does turn it down, which is not going to happen, someone should go to Marcus Evans. Why would I pre-empt something which [isn’t going to happen]?
"My understanding is that Martin’s got it. I’m not looking for it. I prefer to make my decisions when somebody 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.”
McCarthy confirmed that there was a clause in his contract which would have allowed him to leave Town to take over as Ireland boss in the summer if the FAI had wanted him at that stage.
"It was absolutely true.,” he said. "I had an agreement with Marcus Evans. It’s no longer there, so it makes no odds now.
"I also had an agreement that if we went down that Marcus would get shot of me or I could get shot of myself.
"When I took the job in November and we were rock bottom, everything was a bit unsure, so I thought it was right that I asked for that if it came up. Who knows, it was coming to the end of [Trapattoni’s] term, it might have all changed by then.
"But it wasn’t fair that it went into the season, once the season started then I’m the manager here, so I think that tells you what sort of feeling I had to towards it and the loyalty I have towards being employed. I didn’t ask it to go to the end of the qualification.”