O’Neill tipped for Irish post

Northern IRELAND are set to name their new manager next week, with Michael O’Neill the heavy favourite.

O’Neill, who ended a successful stint as Shamrock Rovers boss last week and was in the running for the Hibs job before Pat Fenlon was appointed, 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. An announcement is expected to be made at the end of the year.