McCarthy move imminent

THE FAI will look for substantial compensation, maybe as much as €1m, from Sunderland if they move to appoint Mick McCarthy as successor to Peter Reid.

McCarthy is a short-odds favourite with some bookmakers to fill the job left vacant by Reid’s dismissal on Monday, though there were also indications yesterday that the Black Cats have another high-profile figure in mind as their preferred choice.

As speculation continued, with one bookmaker suspending betting on the subject in anticipation of McCarthy’s appointment to the Stadium of Light hot seat, it is believed all parties likely to be affected by a transfer have tacitly agreed not to take matters any further until after next Wednesday’s European Championship qualifying match against Switzerland in Dublin.