Martin O’Neill ready to stay on as Republic of Ireland boss despite missing out on World Cup following Denmark thrashing
The ex-Leicester boss plans to hold talks with FA of Ireland chief John Delaney over his future in the next few weeks
MARTIN O’NEILL is ready to stay on and usher in a new era for the Republic of Ireland — despite their World Cup heartache.
The ex-Leicester boss plans to hold talks with FA of Ireland chief John Delaney over his future in the next few weeks.
A new two-year contract was verbally agreed last month — and the signs are he will still put pen to paper as planned.
But up to six players could now call time on their international careers.
John O’Shea, Jon Walters, Glenn Whelan, Wes Hoolahan, Daryl Murphy and Aiden McGeady all have decisions to make after Tuesday’s 5-1 World Cup play-off hammering by Denmark in Dublin.
O’Neill, 65, said: “I will sit down and speak to John directly — but I thought John and myself agreed I would stay on.
“There are some players who feel, had we qualified and gone on to the finals, they may have stayed.
“But they will probably bring their international careers to an end now.
“In my time, they have been fantastic.
“We need to think about some younger elements, how it is time to blood them through. We need to start again.”
But O’Neill admits he and his squad need time to gather their thoughts after being crushed by Christian Eriksen and Co.
He added: “After the game we were all very disappointed — little was said in that sense.
“The players are very down, obviously.
“It was a chastening experience for us — we were well beaten.
“The players will, I am hoping, take a bit of time out to look at it.”
