FAI on the verge of agreeing new McCarthy deal
© Reuters 2002
DUBLIN, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Irish soccer officials are confident a new contract would soon be agreed with national coach Mick McCarthy which would keep him with Ireland after the 2002 World Cup finals.
A spokesman for the Football Association of Ireland said on Wednesday that talks with McCarthy's agent had made "satisfactory progress", adding "we hope to finalise the details next week".
The spokesman would not comment on the length of the deal under discussion, but press reports said a two-year contract which would run to the end of the 2004 European Championships was on the table.
The FAI have been keen to agree new terms with McCarthy, who impressed by guiding Ireland to the 2002 World Cup finals from a qualifying group including European heavyweights Portugal and the Netherlands.
The negotiations were given fresh urgency by recent press reports linking the Irish coach with a move to an English premier league side after the tournament.
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