It's begun to feel like we're getting a daily update on who won't be the next Ireland manager at this stage.
In the last week, we've been told by Shay Given that it won't be Lee Carsley and by Brian Kerr that it won't be Chris Hughton. We were told by Neil Lennon that a decision was imminent - but it now appears that that decision was actually just to eliminate Lennon from the running.
And, after it seemed as though he had been cemented as the leading candidate, we were told by BBC Wales that Chris Coleman definitely won't be taking over Stephen Kenny's mantle as Ireland manager.
After the opening round of League of Ireland fixtures, Shelbourne boss Damien Duff said he had found the entire process of finding a Kenny replacement "embarrassing," seemingly ruling himself out of contention.
Though he initially appeared to express interest, more recent comments from Roy Keane suggest he has also been eliminated from the race - whether that decision was his or the FAI's remains unclear.
In truth, the search thus far has bordered on farcical. It has been known for months that the FAI's prime candidate was Carsley but, with over three months of the search concluded, it appears that all we have found out is that the England U21 manager will not be departing to take over the Irish job. For Kenny to have been removed from his post without even a potential replacement lined up is questionable at best.
With so many contenders no longer being considered for the role, we're left with a burning question: just who the hell is going to be the next Ireland manager?
We've broken down who we see as the six leading candidates, as the search for Stephen Kenny's replacement enters its 14th week.
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The contenders still in play to take over as Ireland manager
John O'Shea
18 November 2023; Josh Cullen of Republic of Ireland, right, and Republic of Ireland coach John O'Shea before the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between Netherlands and Republic of Ireland at Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Whispers began to circulate on Tuesday morning that the FAI would seek to put John O'Shea in place as interim Ireland manager for March's friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland.
O'Shea had been part of the Irish coaching ticket under Kenny since February 2023 and was tipped by Gus Poyet (more on him later) last summer as a potential future Ireland manager.
The ex-Manchester United man is yet to take a job as a manager in his coaching career but, with the FAI stressing their next appointment will be a "head coach" rather than an overseer of all, a strong stint as interim manager in March could see O'Shea become a strong contender to take over the job full-time.
His familiarity with the current squad is a point in his favour and he would likely be a popular figurehead among Ireland fans, though his ability to lead a coaching team remains unproven.
Stephen Bradley
3 November 2023; Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley celebrates with the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division trophy after the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
On the face of it, it is somewhat surprising Stephen Bradley has not been mentioned as a more solid contender to take over the Ireland job.
Bradley will this season aim to lead Shamrock Rovers to the League of Ireland's first-ever Premier Division five-in-a-row and has earned plaudits during his eight years in charge not only for his achievements on the pitch but for his demeanour off it.
Cut from the same cloth as Stephen Kenny, there may be trepidation in some corners to appoint another coach from the League of Ireland, given how the Kenny era ultimately panned out. But the signs are there that Bradley would be a solid option as head coach and, with an ever-dwindling list of candidates to choose from, the FAI will surely give him strong consideration.
It should be acknowledged that a meeting was scheduled between Bradley and the FAI was reportedly scheduled without ever going ahead, as per the Irish Independent. It would not be surprising if the FAI were to return to Bradley's doorstep amid the ongoing chaos of their search for a head coach.
Gus Poyet
13 October 2023; Greece manager Gus Poyet during the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between Republic of Ireland and Greece at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The man who started his own rumour mill, Gus Poyet has seemingly been strangely angling himself for the Ireland job ever since coming up against Stephen Kenny's side in Athens last June.
Poyet's Greece ran rings around Ireland on that dire summer night and did so again in the Aviva in October, in the game that all but sealed Kenny's doomed fate.
The Uruguayan coach made unexpected remarks immediately after that October tie that he would be interested in managing Ireland one day, and doubled down on those comments the following month.
Greece still have a playoff chance at qualifying for EURO 2024 next month and it would be a huge shock to see Poyet step away with such an opportunity ahead of him. However, if the FAI do change strategy and appoint an interim coach until the summer, Poyet taking over becomes far more likely.
Anthony Barry
11 November 2021; Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny and coach Anthony Barry, right, during the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and Portugal at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
With the length of time it has taken the FAI to even get to this stage of the Ireland manager deliberation, the likelihood of Anthony Barry returning to these shores has somewhat increased.
Barry, a former assistant of the Stephen Kenny era, departed in early 2022 to take a role on Roberto Martinez's Belgium coaching team. He has since followed Martinez to the Portugal national team and juggles his duties there with a concurrent role under Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
A few months ago, Tuchel unequivocally ruled out the possibility of Bayern letting Barry go - but Tuchel himself now seems under threat of losing his job, with Bayern set to miss out on the Bundesliga for the first time in 12 years.
Similarly to O'Shea, Barry's lack of managerial experience may not be quite so much of an issue in the new "head coach" role the FAI is proposing. The main obstacle will likely be convincing him to leave a Portugal side who have a real chance of winning this summer's European Championships.
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Dean Smith
Former Leicester, Aston Villa, and Norwich boss Dean Smith (Photo: Shutterstock)
Dean Smith has emerged out of the blue in recent weeks and shot towards the top of many bookies' waiting lists to take over as Ireland manager.
Smith is currently head coach of Charlotte FC, with his most recent role on European shores seeing him fail to keep Leicester in the Premier League last season after taking over as interim manager.
As with all the names on this list bar O'Shea, the FAI are presented with the obstacle of having to manoeuvre Smith out of an existing contract.
Smith's track record varies somewhat. Though he was the man to bring Aston Villa back to the Premier League, he has struggled ever since the standout 2020-21 season the Villains enjoyed with Jack Grealish in full flight.
Pretty well unheralded by most fans and pundits, and a late addition to the race, it would be a surprise to see Smith appointed, but it is by no means out of the question.
Vladimir Petkovic
14 October 2019; Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic during a Switzerland training session at Stade de Genève in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Something of an outside shout, but one that has gained momentum among Ireland fans in recent days.
When we put out the feelers on social media to ask for who Balls.ie readers wanted to see take over as Ireland manager, Petkovic's name was among those which popped up the most often.
Of the six men on this list, he has the most international pedigree, having taken Switzerland to the knockout stages of three successive tournaments. He was the mastermind behind their memorable last 16 victory over France at EURO 2020, where the Swiss were then agonisingly beaten by Spain on penalties.
He has been out of work for two years now after a disappointing spell in charge of Bordeaux, but his credentials at international level are sound. As appointments go, Petkovic would be perhaps the most intriguing of all on this list.
Honourable mentions
Though question marks hang over most of the men listed above, there are a few names that likely have too many question marks to be realistic contenders to take over.
Kieran McKenna has been doing stellar work with Ipswich Town, who remain in the fight for Premier League promotion, but it is unlikely that the FAI would be able to prise the Fermanagh man from the grasp of the Tractor Boys.
Similarly, Brian Barry-Murphy's recent track record with the Manchester City Elite Development Squad is thoroughly impressive, but his lack of senior experience coupled with the likely financial cost of luring him away from the Etihad makes it a tough ask.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is another hugely attractive option who the FAI are likely to be priced out of, with the former Manchester United boss also now rumoured to be in the mix to replace Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich.
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