Taylor urges Irish FA to extend O’Neill’s contract

Northern Ireland coach Maik Taylor has called for the Irish Football Association to hand Michael O’Neill a new deal despite the side’s troubling run of results.

Taylor, who is working on a short-term deal as goalkeeping coach less than two years since winning his last cap, believes O’Neill needs to stay on when his contract expires at the end of the year.

A quick scan of his record — played 13, won only one — does the former Shamrock Rovers boss few favours, with defeats in Luxembourg and Azerbaijan in the last two World Cup qualifiers particularly disappointing.