McCarthy will sign next week - FAI

The FAI says it's made substantial progress this evening after a lengthy meeting with Mick McCarthy's financial advisor Liam Gaskin in a bid to thrash out a new deal.

The Irish boss has 48 hours left on his present contract, but the FAI are confident that McCarthy will sign an extension next week.

The meeting broke up shortly before 6pm today, and the FAI released a short two line statement.

It read: "A further meeting between the officers of the Football Association of Ireland and representatives of Mick McCarthy took place in Dublin this afternoon.

"Substantial progress was made and we expect that a new contract with Mick McCarthy as manager of Republic of Ireland team will be agreed next week."