Hugton gets Hoddle's Republic backing

Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle has given the green light to Chris Hughton teaming up with new Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr.

Kerr, who will be unveiled tomorrow in Dublin as the successor to Mick McCarthy, wants Hughton to assist him on a part-time basis – similar to the way Steve McClaren worked with England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Former Republic left back Hughton – who starred for his country in the finals of Euro 88 – is currently the highly respected first team coach at White Hart Lane, but will be allowed to work with Kerr if an official approach is made.

Hoddle told PA Sport: “I won’t stand in Chris’ way. I am due to speak to him, and we would need to clear it with the board, but I have no objections to it happening.”

Kerr was in London today finalising his contract with officials from the Football Association of Ireland.

The 49-year-old Dubliner and his advisor Fintan Drury had talks with FAI president Milo Corcoran, treasurer John Delaney and acting general secretary Kevin Fahy in a hotel close to Heathrow Airport.

Kerr was officially informed over the weekend that he had got the job, pending contract, and met the three-man panel deciding the job today to negotiate the most prestigious, and richest, contract of his football career.

Kerr, who has earned the respect of Irish players and officials alike during his previous roles as technical director and head of the under-age teams, is expected to be handed an initial three-year contract which would run to the end of the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign, although that could be extended depending on results.

Kerr will receive a salary less than that earned by McCarthy, but there would be massive bonuses for qualifying for a major tournament final.

After all the furore which involved McCarthy during and after the World Cup finals, the FAI will insist that Kerr is not permitted to have a newspaper column or write a book while Irish manager.

Kerr is expected to make a direct approach to Manchester United captain Roy Keane and ask him to return to the team for the remainder of the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign, and sources close to Keane have indicated he would be willing to return, which will be a massive boost for Ireland’s qualifying hopes.