Northern Ireland want new Sanchez deal

The Irish Football Association are keen for Lawrie Sanchez to sign a new deal.

The Northern Ireland manager’s contract expires at the end of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign and he could return to club football.

However the IFA are planning to hold talks with Sanchez following the Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden next Wednesday.

“We must do what we can to make it as attractive as possible for Lawrie to stay,” IFA chief executive Howard Wells told he Belfast Telegraph.

“He has done a very good job and now we have to establish what his ambitions are.

“We will agree a timeframe to sit down and have talks with all the appropriate parties in attendance.

“There is a window of opportunity after the Sweden game next week but right now we want Lawrie and the players to focus on winning matches.”

Before they meet Sweden, Northern Ireland face Liechtenstein on Saturday.

They will go second in Group F behind leaders Sweden if they win and Denmark fail to beat Spain.