John O’Shea is thinking no further ahead than Tuesday night’s friendly against Switzerland amid speculation he could become permanent Republic of Ireland manager after all.
The Football Association of Ireland’s director of football Marc Canham revealed last month as O’Shea was placed in interim charge that Stephen Kenny’s successor would be named in early April, and that an announcement had been delayed by “existing contractual obligations”.
Former Manchester United and Ireland defender O’Shea said: “My remit was to focus on these two games. If my remit beforehand was ‘John, you’re the full-time new manager’, it might have been a different situation. The focus for me was ‘these two games, John, look after these games and see what happens then’. “I am focusing on the last game against Switzerland. My focus has been on that right from the start when this process started.”
Here’s the latest from talkSPORT BET on who is the favourite to be the next permanent boss:
1. Chris Hughton
The ex-Newcastle, Brighton and Ghana boss is 25-1 Photo: ISSOUF SANOGO
2. Roy Keane
The ex-Ireland and Man United midfielder is 20/1 Photo: Jack Thomas - WWFC
3. Slaven Bili
The ex-Hammer is 12/1 Photo: Yasser Bakhsh
4. John O’Shea
The former Man U defender and current caretaker is 12/1 Photo: Charles McQuillan