Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has signed a two-year extension to his current contract which will take him up to the European Championships in Portugal in 2004. Speculation regarding McCarthy's future had been growing in recent weeks as the wait continued for the former Irish captain to put pen to paper following talks with the Football Association of Ireland. However, he has finally signed, putting an end to any fears that this summer's World Cup finals would be his last in charge.
“I am happy with the new deal. Hopefully now we can get on with the business of doing well in the World Cup. That is where the emphasis is. We are not happy or content at simply qualifying for the World Cup. Now we want to have a good tournament and not be coming home after the group stages,” said McCarthy.
The former Millwall manager also said he will definitely leave the job if he fails to guide Ireland through the qualifying group for the 2004 European Championships. “If we go on to the European Championships and don’t qualify then I’m not going to be around, I’m not going to stay. It’s as simple as that. I’ll go if we don’t qualify,” he added.
FAI chief executive, Brendan Menton, has expressed the association’s delight at McCarthy’s decision to sign a new contract: “On behalf of the Association we are delighted this has been resolved – and very quickly. Mick wanted to stay and we wanted him to stay and in the end it took just two meetings between the FAI and Mick for the new contract to be concluded,” he said.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly & Tom Grealis
