Former Irish international Darren O’Dea says he finds it strange the FAI have not finalized a protracted contract for Irish manager Martin O’Neill, amid interest from Stroke City FC.
O’Neill verbally agreed to a contract extension before Ireland’s World Cup playoff game against Denmark in November but pen has not been put to paper. It has been reported that O’Neill has been formally offered the job as manager.
Quique Sanchez Flores was set to be appointed manager after the sacking of Mark Hughes last week but O’Neill is now favourite after the Spaniard made a last minute U-turn, and rebuffed Potters advances.
Dundee captain O’Dea joined Jamie Moore on 98 FM’s: “Now that’s what I call sport.”
"The fact it hasn’t been signed yet is very strange. I found it very, very strange. The scenario a club team has come in for him, and he can potentailly move away for nothing, soon. It’s a really strange situation . How the FAI haven’t tied this down is really strange. You could potentially see the manager walk away, now.
The Dundee skipper says O’Neill may reject the job because he was second place on Stoke’s wish list, but believes it's not dead in the water, yet.
“Martin O’Neill will feel that he is second choice because he clearly is. He was quite clearly second choice,” he added.
O’Dea thinks the money on offer from Stoke may be too good for O’Neill to turn down.
“Let’s be honest, the money here, the money in the Premier League is huge. It’s bigger than anything the FAI can afford. Certainly, Martin O’Neill has done very well out of football. I’m sure he’s not motivated soley by money but in reality he’s at an age where it would potentially be his last job in football.”
The defender who has 20 international caps for his country also sees a potential stumbling block for O’Neill. He thinks the length of contract Stoke offer the Derry man may be an a major isssue in getting a deal over the line.
“I would suggest the thing that I’ve heard and read about is that the length of contract Stoke are possibly offering is a stumbling block,” said O’Dea
Although he thinks O’Neill would be a success at Stoke. The former Celtic player predicts that Stoke will offer the 69-year-old a short-term deal, and says his expierence would be vital for Stoke to survive in the Premier League.
“If I’m being honest; I see him going to Stoke as a short-term thing. I see him going in, he’s obviously got great expierenece, a good man manager. He’s got good expierence in the Premier League to keep to keep them up. I don’t see that as a long-term project for him.”
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