Il Trap vs El Tel on cards as Bulgaria sack Markov

IRELAND’S World Cup rivals Bulgaria have sacked embattled coach Plamen Markov, meaning that the national side will be under new management when they visit Dublin in March of next year.

And the dismissal of the coach could open the door to the appointment of former England boss Terry Venables which — given he had long been the favourite to the land the Irish job before Giovanni Trapattoni entered the race — would add extra spice to the meeting of the two nations at Croke Park.

Venables had been on the Bulgarian shortlist before Markov was installed for his second stint in the post last January, but it’s understood the Englishman was reluctant to move to Sofia.