Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has suspended the market on who the next Ireland senior football manager will be, and it seems that former player and current England U-21 manager Lee Carsley will be the man to replace Stephen Kenny in the role.
In a press release from Paddy Power, the Irish bookmaker said, "Paddy's tip-top football trading team has, this morning, suspended betting on the Next Ireland Manager markets, with Lee Carsley expected to be the man chosen to replace Stephen Kenny."
The news was also backed up by a report by The Irish Sun, where they said, "The former Ireland midfielder is a preferred option." The paper also says, "Carsley will 'likely' be named manager of Ireland in the next seven days. Ireland bosses will decide on Tuesday to recommend Carsley to the board as their next appointment."
The Sun also concluded their report around Carsley's appointment by stating that "The FAI was due to go before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee next Thursday, though that has been postponed. The association now hopes to unveil a gaffer ahead of the February 8 Nations League draw in Paris."
It appears that Carsley has beaten the likes of former players Chris Houghton, Roy Keane, Steve Bruce, and others to the role that has been vacant since November.
Zurab Khizanishvili of Georgia holds off Lee Carsley of the Republic of Ireland during the European 2004 Championship Qualifier Group 10 match between Republic of Ireland and Georgia on June 11, 2003 at Lansdowne Road in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland won the match 2-0. (Photo By Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)The Birmingham-born native qualified to play for Ireland through his grandmother, who came from Dunmanway, County Cork.
Carsley has since gone on to win 40 caps for Ireland and led the England U-21s to their first U21 European Championship win since 1984.
Since Stephen Kenny was removed from his role in November, the FAI stated that the goal was to have someone in place before the March double-header, where they will face Belgium on Saturday, March 23, and Switzerland on Tuesday, March 26.
It appears they now have their man.
Carsley's name has been endorsed by many, and many feel he has the ability to succeed in the role. One of the names who was keen to see him on an Ireland touchline was former Ireland forward Clinton Morrison.
Speaking last week, former Morrison backed his old friend Lee Carsley to secure the Ireland managerial position.
"Another name I like a lot and would throw into the hat is Lee Carsley because I think he's doing a great job with the England under-21s," he said to OLBG.
"He was my roommate for the Republic of Ireland, and I know he knows a lot about the country because he played for them, so I think he'd be the ideal appointment. But I think either Lennon or Carsley would be great for Ireland; I think it'd be two quality appointments."
Exciting times for Ireland, indeed.
