Nicholl favourite for Northern Ireland job

The IFA has drawn up a short-list of candidates for the Northern Ireland manager's job and will start interviewing in a fortnight.

IFA president Jim Boyce said: “They all have a Northern Ireland background.”

Dunfermline No2 Jimmy Nicholl appears to be the clear favourite to succeed Sammy McIlroy.

Former Northern Ireland assistant manager Gerry Armstrong and ex-Wycombe boss Lawrie Sanchez are also thought to be in the frame.

Both Nicholl and Armstrong played regularly at international level although Sanchez won three caps while at Wimbledon.

The short list was ratified after a lengthy meeting of the IFA’s international committee.

Boyce said: “We now have a list of people that we wish to interview.

“That process will start in the week beginning January 19. I am still very confident we will have the new manager in place before the end of the month.”

The IFA have been looking for a manager since the end of the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign when McIlroy decided to leave for Stockport.

The new manager’s first match in charge is likely to be on February 18 when Northern Ireland face Norway in a friendly at Windsor Park.