Despite the efforts of Stoke City to secure the services of Martin O’Neill as their new manager, they have failed to convince the Republic of Ireland manager to leave his current post. O’Neill was believed to be the man that chairman Peter Coates was in favour of, even before Quique Sanchez Flores turned down the opportunity of a Premier League return.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) do have a contract agreement with the former Celtic, Leicester and Aston Villa manager. However, the agreement is only verbal. Regardless, the terms of the contract O’Neill has with the FAI in existence, is that he is allowed to discuss any possible job opportunities with clubs interested in his services.
What’s most surprising about this ordeal, which has taken centre stage in the Irish Media and public discourse over the last week; is that Stoke did not do enough to get their man. Whether it is because they were speaking to other candidates or because O’Neill was not getting the job security he has in Ireland, essentially, Stoke failed.
Jon Walters, the former Stoke and striker, was a guest on BBC’s Match of The Day 2 Extra on Sunday. When asked about his thought on his current international manager taking the job at Stoke, he was unequivocal.
“I’m a Stoke fan as well, having been there for so long, and I’m an Ireland player – and if I was Stoke City I would be clamouring to appoint him. It’s going back to simplicity. Stoke need organising. They need something because they’re down in the bottom three.
“With Ireland we were fourth favourites to get out of the group with Serbia and Austria, Wales. Everyone gave us no chance.
“A lot of people are judging him on the Denmark game, which was a terrible result, but if you look at how we’ve done under him with Ireland I can only see him as favourite.”
It was high praise, but it was relevant and justified. O’Neill would have been a fine fit. At the very least, Stoke would have played with a purpose that had dissipated in Mark Hughes’s final games. O’Neill is renowned as a motivator, even if he is questioned as a tactician.
It was the media reaction to his tactical decisions in the World Cup play-off defeat to Denmark, that had left a sour taste in the mouth of the former Nottingham Forest stalwart. With tension in existence with the media and a public deflated after missing out on Russia, it seemed a change would suit. It now appears however, he will sign a formal contract with the FAI before the UEFA Nations League draw next week.
Stoke, meanwhile, are now under real pressure to find a new manager. With a little over two weeks left in the January transfer window, it’s essential Stoke get someone in quickly to endeavour them to get the feel for the blueprint of the club, the dimensions of the squad and implement a quick rebuild to stave off relegation.
But getting the right man has slipped from their grasp. Slaven Bilic and Paul Lambert are two of the leading favourites. Not quite the eye-catching appointments that Stoke fans will have been looking for.
But Stoke are not without their options. Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy is something of an outsider for the job. However, McCarthy, a former Ireland manager himself, is one of the more underrated managers in the English game and has produced miracles to keep Ipswich boxing above their weight on a budget that is close to non-existent.
Stoke could do far worse. And they are beginning to run out of viable options.
