Mick McCarthy signed a two-year deal as manager of the Republic of Ireland. The new regime, however, may only last 12 months.
Or of course, "there might be a push for me to stay", in which case McCarthy could still be in charge after the proposed two-year deal, which would throw a major spanner in the works of the new FAI vision, which sees Stephen Kenny set to take over the manager’s role ahead of the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Over 20 years have passed since the self-described "starry-eyed, 36-year-old" McCarthy began his first stint as Ireland manager.
"I’ve got wiser and got a bit more perspective on life and I tend not to fall out with everybody as quickly as I did before," said McCarthy when asked about how he has changed as a manager.
"And I’d like to think the experiences I have gained since I was here the last time...I have won the league twice, been in the Premier League for three or four seasons, so I think I have learned something, that’s for sure."
McCarthy has spent the last 16 years managing on the club circuit in England’s top two tiers, and if the former Ireland captain has learned anything, it is the fragility of a manager’s contract in professional football.
"In the championship the average tenure is 11 months, I’ve been given 24," joked McCarthy, when speaking about his current deal and the agreement to hand over the reins to Stephen Kenny in 2020.
The new man, of course, did fully endorse the FAI’s vision to bring Kenny in following the 2020 campaign, yet McCarthy also threw out enough comments to suggest that he may plead a case for a stay of execution further down the road.
In fact, McCarthy knows that the first year of the job will determine what happens beyond, and it was evident that there was real enthusiasm in his words and mannerisms as he spoke about getting to work ahead of the opening qualifiers in March.
However, if Ireland are drawn in a group of five teams for the Euros, McCarthy’s tenure this time around could last no more than eight games.
"It is results that count, and if we don’t qualify, ultimately I’ll be off and Stephen might be taking it early," said McCarthy.
The former Sunderland and Wolves manager has been out of work, in a managerial sense at least, since leaving Ipswich in March, and while it is unlikely that he was waiting around for the end of Martin O’Neill’s tenure, it is certain that he did not have to ponder too long once the approach came from the FAI.
McCarthy said all the right things in the press conference, emphasising his penchant for attacking football, his desire to get Declan Rice to commit to the cause, and to bring back an intimidating atmosphere to Lansdowne Road.
But the manager’s best work will most likely be done away from the training ground and the Aviva Stadium, and rather by the relationships that he will foster with his squad members.
"There has been enough press coverage for me to know [about the Harry Arter situation, feeling uncomfortable in the squad].
"If he is feeling uncomfortable, I will try to alleviate that and make him feel comfortable and wanted, and wanted to play in the team.
"I’ll be speaking to everybody, all the players, and while we do not have many games, I’ll have a chance to go around and watch them, speak to them, find out what their thoughts are."
McCarthy will find out who his side will face in the Euro qualifiers next Sunday as the draw takes place at the Convention Centre in Dublin, and with Ireland set to be drawn out of Pot 3, a tough task awaits.
"It’s vital," said McCarthy when asked how important it was for Ireland, as a co-host, to qualify for the Euros.
And so the battle will commence in March as Ireland will play their opening two games of their qualifying group.
By November 2019 Ireland will know their fate, potentially qualifying as a group winner or runner up, or whether they have secured a place in the inaugural Nations League play-offs in March 2020.
If Ireland are set for an idle 2020, the manager may have already passed on the baton.
However, even without qualification, if McCarthy has moulded an attack-minded, ball-playing, highly passionate unit gaining real appreciation from supporters and critics alike, there may be a general unwillingness for another regime change, despite the FAI’s promises to Stephen Kenny.
"People might not be glad to see the back of me, in terms of how I work and the atmosphere that I create and the thing that will be left behind," added the new manager.
Perhaps McCarthy is also planning to stick around a little longer too.
