Pursuit of new Irish manager to ‘accelerate’ in coming weeks

THE FAI’s pursuit of a new Republic of Ireland manager will “accelerate” in the coming weeks, senior Merrion Square sources revealed yesterday.

The Association’s representatives are expected to begin direct talks with their preferred candidate to replace Brian Kerr shortly, with Martin O’Neill still the bookmakers favourite to take the post.

The pre-Christmas moves suggest that the new coach will be well in place before the Republic’s next friendly in March, though in O’Neill’s case, that will still depend on his family circumstances and the health of his wife Geraldine.