And so ends one of the stranger periods in recent Irish football history.
(And that is saying something.)
Before leading his Republic of Ireland team to France for Euro 2016, it was announced that Martin O’Neill and his backroom team had agreed new deals with the Football Association of Ireland.
Days later, when settled in their Versailles training base, O’Neill revealed that no contracts had been signed, but instead a verbal agreement had been reached with FAI chief executive John Delaney.
“I’ve shaken hands with John, that’s all that’s necessary,” said O’Neill back in June. “John felt that going into the Euros it might be a decent thing to do so fine. I’m happy with it.”
Since Ireland’s Euro 2016 campaign ended with the last-16 defeat to hosts France, a certain air of uncertainty has surrounded the manager’s future, which has led to speculation about his future.
Report: Premier League club to try lure Martin O'Neill away from Ireland https://t.co/WF3Zql0n8Z
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 5, 2016
“The contracts are there to be signed at this stage, it’s only a matter of Martin and myself meeting up to sign them together,” said Delaney back in July.
However they went unsigned over the course of the international break earlier this month, with Roy Keane saying he had “an idea” of what was slowing it down.
This all added to the intrigue, the intrigue that was finally brought to an end by O’Neill in Abbotstown on Friday as he named his squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Moldova.
Martin O'Neill: I have signed a new deal. It was never an issue. Roy and the backroom staff have followed suit. We're delighted. #COYBIG
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 23, 2016
We await confirmation that the contracts run until the end of the 2018 World Cup campaign.
We review a crazy All-Ireland final and chat to Lee Keegan about his special relationship with Diarmuid Connolly. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes.
