Ex-Blues boss Roy Keane is being lined up as Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland number two with the former Celtic, Aston Villa and Leicester manager now appearing certain to be confirmed as the successor to Giovanni Trapattoni, who left by mutual consent in September.
O’Neill is now understood to have indicated to the FAI that he is interested in the job following a series of meetings. Discussions are believed to be continuing over the weekend with confirmation perhaps coming as soon as Monday.
The 61-year-old is reported to have instigated the idea of former Ireland skipper Keane, 42, joining his staff and the ex-Manchester United man is thought to be interested in the role despite a well-documented rocky relationship with the FAI.
Former midfielder Ray Houghton and performance director Ruud Dokter have been working as headhunters for the FAI and the ex-Liverpool man confirmed to the BBC that he expected developments soon: "I'm involved in the process of bringing the manager in.
"At the moment there are a few things under way but until things are signed we just have to wait and see. Something, hopefully, in the next few days will come about."
Current Town manager Mick McCarthy was seen as the other frontrunner along with O’Neill but the Blues never received an approach from the FAI.