The latest Fifa rankings have seen Ireland move up eight places to 26 but, despite that significant improvement, of the eight countries to qualify for the World Cup play-offs, only Greece, at 47, are ranked below Martin O’Neill’s team.

NOVEMBER is the money month in football: next week, a Deloitte report will reveal that Premier League earnings from overseas TV rights are on track to overtake the domestic contract, while in eight days, the Future of Football Conference takes place in London with one of the seminars entitled, ‘The Buying and Selling of Football Clubs’.