Pool eye O’Neill as Hoops dream over

REPORTS in the north of England are already linking Michael O’Neill with the manager’s post at League One side Hartlepool United even though there has, as yet, been no official confirmation that he is about to end his three-year reign in charge of Shamrock Rovers.

But with club captain Dan Murray revealing O’Neill has already told the players he is departing, it’s now the worst kept secret in Irish football that Thursday night’s Europa League game against Spurs at Tallaght Stadium will be the manager’s last with the Hoops.

The club have so far refrained from confirming his departure, having made a policy decision to try to maintain focus on Wednesday’s game. However, that’s unlikely to last beyond tomorrow afternoon, when O’Neill himself will face the media for what will be his last pre-match press conference in Tallaght.