O’Neill Northern Ireland favourite

NORTHERN Ireland are set to name their new manager next week, with Michael O’Neill the heavy favourite to succeed Nigel Worthington.

O’Neill, who ended a successful stint as Shamrock Rovers boss last week, is understood to be the first choice of the Irish Football Association, who had narrowed the field to a shortlist of three. Iain Dowie and Jim Magilton – who assisted O’Neill at Shamrock – were the other men to be interviewed for the post.

The role was not expected to be filled until next month, but it is believed an announcement can now be expected before the end of the year. The interviewing panel – led by IFA president Jim Shaw and chief executive Patrick Nelson – must present their recommendation to the board for ratification and plan to do so on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

O’Neill, 42, called time on his Shamrock career after last week’s Europa League defeat by Tottenham. During his time at the Tallaght Stadium, O’Neill won back-to-back League of Ireland titles and became the first manager to take an Irish team into the group stages in Europe. His previous managerial job was in Scotland with Brechin City and he was strongly linked with Hibernian before Pat Fenlon was installed at Easter Road.