Worthington favourite to take over from Sanchez

The IFA will name Lawrie Sanchez’s successor today with Nigel Worthington the clear favourite to take over.

A media conference has been called at the Europa Hotel, Belfast at 12.30pm to name the new Northern Ireland manager.

In a statement the governing body said: “The Irish Football Association originally planned to unveil the new Northern Ireland international manager at the beginning of July.

“However the matter progressed quickly and significant details were confirmed more rapidly than initially anticipated.”

Should Ballymena-born Worthington, 45, as expected be handed the role, he will find the province in a position of unexpected strength.

Northern Ireland are in with a chance of qualifying for a major championship for the first time in over 20 years.

They head Group F on 13 points in the Euro 2008 qualifiers following the superb victory against Sweden in March.

That was Sanchez’s last game in charge. He left his post suddenly following a highly successful spell – to join Fulham after initially being named caretaker boss.

The IFA have moved quickly to replace him and Worthington is 5-6 on to with a leading bookmakers to move in with his opening game scheduled to be the qualifier against Liechtenstein in August.

However it is understood there is only a short-term contract on offer initially until the end of the qualifiers in November.

The IFA apparently wanted someone with international experience.

Worthington certainly comes into that category. He won 66 caps in 13 years for Northern Ireland and had a spell as captain under manager Bryan Hamilton.

Worthington had earlier dismissed speculation linking him with the job as he was Leicester’s caretaker boss at the time.

But after completing his five-match spell and seeing the club secure their Coca-Cola Championship status he was overlooked for the full-time post. He was left out of work after Leicester appointed MK Dons manager Martin Allen instead.

Worthington first earned his managerial spurs in a two-year spell with Blackpool before taking over at Norwich in 2000.

He spent six years at Carrow Road leading the club into the Barclays Premiership.

However they struggled to return to the top flight and he paid the price last year after a string of poor results. Now he looks set to return to work.