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Stoke still keen on appointing Martin O'Neill as boss

O’Neill was initially wary of Stoke’s interest but lines of communication have remained open - PA
O’Neill was initially wary of Stoke’s interest but lines of communication have remained open - PA

Stoke City remain keen on appointing Martin O'Neill as their new manager and are making a concerted attempt to persuade him to leave the Republic of Ireland after four years in international football.

O'Neill has still not decided whether to accept their offer as he and his assistant Roy Keane are excited by the challenge of building a new, younger Ireland squad during their European Nations Cup campaign, which starts later this year.

Indeed, Keane is thought to have helped persuade O'Neill to stay on over the last few weeks, but there is a growing risk Stoke will make an offer that is too good for them to turn down. Keane will almost certainly join O'Neill at the Bet365 Stadium if Stoke can agree terms with them.

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O’Neill was initially wary of Stoke’s interest as they appeared to have made former Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores their preferred target, but Telegraph Sport understands they had kept communication lines open even though the 65-year-old had told them on Friday that he was no longer interested.

Quique Sanchez Flores - Credit:  PA
Quique Sanchez Flores was also contacted by StokeCredit: PA

Sources have told Telegraph Sport that this has actually hardened Stoke’s interest as they did not want to miss out on owner Peter Coates’ first choice to replace Mark Hughes and felt O’Neill vast experience of managing in the Premier League meant he was the best person to turn their season around.

O’Neill has never been relegated from the top flight as a manager and had huge success with both Aston Villa and Leicester City, either side of a fruitful spell in Scotland with Celtic.

The Northern Irishman had been mulling over signing a new two-year contract to continue as Ireland manager until the end of their European Championship campaign in 2020, but Stoke were determined to bring him back into club management.

Stoke sacked Hughes last weekend following an FA Cup Third Round defeat to Coventry City, which left the club with a just a relegation battle to contend with and their league position is precarious.

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill (right) with assistant Roy Keane during the FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off first leg match at the Parken Stadium, Copenhagen - Credit: PA
Keane will almost certainly join O'Neill at the Bet365 Stadium if Stoke can agree termsCredit: PA

It has been a hugely disappointing campaign for The Potters and owner Peter Coates made it clear he wanted O’Neill to turn things around.

Although O’Neill, who will almost certainly bring Roy Keane with him as his assistant manager, has been out of club management since he was sacked by Sunderland in 2013 he has done a good job with Ireland, despite defeat in their World Cup play off to Denmark.

O’Neill had already verbally agreed a new contract with the Football Association of Ireland before that painful loss in Dublin back in November, but was stung by the criticism that followed and decided to delay signing it.

That alerted Premier League clubs and he was also approached by Everton before the offered the manager’s job to Sam Allardyce.

O’Neill is understood to have rejected a contract at Goodison Park as he was unhappy with the length of the deal, which paved the way for Allardyce to replace Ronald Koeman last month.