Pundits reckon club lure may see O’Neill reject Ireland’s call

The growing belief Martin O’Neill is tempted by the lure of a return to club football is reflected in the latest comments on the Irish managerial succession stakes by three well-known personalities in the game.

John Giles and Eamon Dunphy were on hand in Dublin yesterday to support a new approach to developing young players which is being driven by former Arsenal and Ireland full-back John Devine. All three pointed to the opportunity to work again in the Premier League as the reason why O’Neill, while still not out of the running, is no longer regarded as the raging hot favourite to succeed Giovanni Trapattoni.

Devine knows O’Neill well from when they were together at Norwich in the mid-80s — indeed, he revealed he lived in the Derryman’s house for the first three weeks at Carrow Road. But, while hailing him as an excellent man-manager and organiser with all the credentials to “do a very good job for Ireland”, Devine suggested O’Neill’s attachment to club football would remain strong.