All the signs are that Martin O’Neill is staying on as manager of Ireland.

With Martin O’Neill’s position as Ireland manager moving closer to the brink than it’s ever been before over the last 48 hours, the question of who might succeed him — whether that’s sooner or later — has gained fresh momentum.

Martin O’Neill would receive a warm welcome from Stoke City fans if he was appointed at the bet365 Stadium, according to the editor of the club’s longest-running fanzine, despite latest reports that he may be only a back-up option to former Watford coach Quique Sanchez Flores.

"It’s going to be a really interesting few days no matter what the outcome is."

Quique Sanchez Flores is Stoke’s first choice to succeed Mark Hughes.

The Football Association of Ireland could be about to lose Martin O’Neill from their grasp after the Ireland manager last night held what was understood to be a productive meeting with Stoke City about their managerial vacancy.

Liverpool 2 Watford 0: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has rescinded his invitation for all fans to travel to Basel for the Europa League final after admitting it was “not too smart”.

Jurgen Klopp has set Jordan Henderson and striker Divock Origi a deadline of May 15 - the date of Liverpool’s last Premier League match at West Brom - to prove their fitness in order to be considered for the Europa League final against Sevilla the following Wednesday.

Alan Pardew has defended the “outstanding” Quique Sanchez Flores’ record at Watford amid increasing speculation about the manager’s position.

West Ham 3 Watford 1: Andy Carroll and Mark Noble were on target as West Ham kept their chances of a top-four finish alive with a 3-1 win over Watford.

Under-fire Roberto Martinez insists the growing discontent among Everton supporters is not having a detrimental effect on his team.

Per Mertesacker insists Arsenal’s season is not over — but has called on the club’s goalscorers to rediscover their killer instinct.

Claudio Ranieri has raised the stakes in the battle for the Barclays Premier League title by claiming Leicester's big-spending rivals will now feel the pressure in this most unpredictable of seasons.

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri insists he is not dreaming about winning the Barclays Premier League despite moving five points clear in the title race with a 1-0 victory at Watford.

Watford 1 Leeds United 0: Defeated Leeds manager Steve Evans has hailed cup counterpart Quique Sanchez Flores as a “fantastic addition” to the Barclays Premier League.

Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores does not understand why English football is so expensive and wants fans to be able to watch the game for free.

Chelsea interim boss Guus Hiddink says no-one is “irreplaceable” but that John Terry is performing “perfectly” as the captain’s contract dispute rumbles on.

Liverpool and Chelsea target Alex Teixeira has reportedly told Shakhtar Donetsk that he wants to join Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

Southampton impressively outplayed and outworked Watford.

Vincent Kompany will undergo thorough assessment as Manchester City bid to get to the bottom of their captain’s recurring calf problems but manager Manuel Pellegrini says the club will not be entering the transfer market this month.

Watford 1 Tottenham 2: If Tottenham have ambitions to do more than simply finish in the top four, they will need more performances like this, where they showed character and resilience to grind out a somewhat fortuitous victory against a Watford side reduced to 10 men for the final half-hour.

Aston Villa 2 Watford 3: Remi Garde is contemplating changes in a bid to plug Aston Villa’s leaky defence.

Watford 0 Crystal Palace 1: Alan Pardew hailed the resoluteness of Wilfried Zaha, who was publicly rebuked by the Eagles boss after being hauled off at half-time in the defeat to Tottenham last week.

Watford 0 Southampton 0: Southampton manager Ronald Koeman was keen to take the positives out of a scrappy stalemate that left both sides still searching for their first Barclays Premier League wins of the season.

Watford and Southampton are still searching for their first Barclays Premier League wins of the season after playing out a scrappy goalless draw at Vicarage Road.

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores has backed Troy Deeney to open his Premier League goal account soon.

When Southampton’s then-chief executive Nicola Cortese sacked Nigel Adkins in January 2013, it was described as a brutal and bizarre betrayal.

David de Gea has confirmed he has been in contact with Manchester United as the goalkeeper’s move from Atletico Madrid draws closer.

Barcelona’s record 16-match winning run in the Primera Division came to an end tonight as they were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Sporting Gijon.

LIVERPOOL midfielder Javier Mascherano is confident fatigue will not be a problem for the Reds against Atletico Madrid tonight despite a gruelling 24-hour trek to reach the Spanish capital.

Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores admits the buck stops with him after seeing his side slump to a demoralising home defeat at the hands of bottom club Xerez.