The Football Association of Ireland will move forward with contract talks with senior manager Stephen Kenny as CEO Jonathan Hill gave confirmation that they would like to end months of speculation concerning Kenny’s position in the job.
Later this week, Ireland will find out their opponents for the upcoming Nations League campaign with the draw being made in Switzerland on Thursday.
Negotiations with the former Dundalk boss will not reach an agreement in time for that draw.
However, CEO of the FAI Jonathan Hill told officials at an FAI National Assembly on Monday night that he will contact Kenny and his advisors about a new deal in the wake of the board’s review of the year.
“The board has now given me a mandate to negotiate with Stephen Kenny and that will be key to our overall messaging,” Hill said.
“I’m working with, and talking to, Stephen about hopefully taking him forward in relation to the Euro 2024 qualification.”
A shorter contract extension that would take Kenny up to the end of the Nations League had been the outcome many commentators were in favour of.
That is not a feasible option for the FAI, however, with the powers that be eager to put an end to the talk around Kenny’s future before the new year.