Michael O’Neill: North’s dressing room didn’t need new voice

Against the lure of leaving for a higher seeded nation in Scotland, Michael O’Neill believes his relevant voice in the Northern Ireland dressing-room was central to him staying.

O’Neill looked to be on his way across the Irish Sea after dazzling the Scottish FA in a three-hour interview last week but he eventually rebuffed the chance of succeeding Gordon Strachan.

The former Hibernian player, who lives in Edinburgh, has worked wonders for Northern Irish football — taking them to the knockout stages of Euro 2016 and the World Cup play-off in November.