Monday 12 December 2011

O'Neill Says Hasta La Vista Rovers


Shamrock Rovers boss Michael O'Neill is quitting the club and Thursday's final Europa League clash with Tottenham will be his last game in charge.

The 42-year-old told his players that contract negotiations with Shamrock officials had broken down.

Rovers are understood to have offered O'Neill a new two-year deal.

O'Neill and his assistant Jim Magilton are among the candidates who will be interviewed for the Northern Ireland manager's job this week.

O'Neill, whose current contract runs out on 31 December, has guided Rovers to two League of Ireland titles since arriving at the club in 2009.

"He said he was telling us so he could focus on Thursday's game and make sure we do ourselves justice," said Rovers captain Dan Murray.

"I was pretty surprised myself because we've had a pretty good year but it's one of those things."

O'Neill last month described the Northern Ireland job as "very attractive".

The former international midfielder added that his future was "up in the air" and that he would consider "anything that comes along".

The Shamrock Rovers manager's comments came less than a fortnight after he had said that he wanted to remain at the Dublin club.