Soccer: McIlroy in talks on new deal

Sammy McIlroy hopes his future as Northern Ireland manager will be resolved before the start of the final 2002 World Cup qualifiers next month.

McIlroy flies to Belfast tomorrow for contract talks with the Irish Football Association’s international committee.

Despite presiding over a run of six successive defeats, which ended Northern Ireland’s always slim hopes of reaching the 2002 finals, the IFA are expected to offer McIlroy a new two-year deal.

The IFA are impressed by the way McIlroy has brought through a number of young players in difficult circumstances and feel the team’s long-term prospects are encouraging.

McIlroy, whose current deal expires in the autumn, would be delighted to carry on and he wants the matter cleared up before Northern Ireland’s next game against Denmark on September 1.

‘‘One way or the other, I would like it sorted before September comes round,’’ he said.

‘‘That would be the best situation for all concerned, the IFA, the players and myself.

‘‘I don’t want to be going into those final three games with this still hanging over us.’’

IFA president Jim Boyce has already come out in favour of McIlroy and in June he said he would like to see the former Macclesfield boss kept on.

IFA general secretary David Bowen said: ‘‘The international committee meets on Wednesday and Sammy will be coming over to discuss how things are going.’’