As the hunt for a new Ireland manager continues, a surprising candidate lept to the top of the bookies' predictions earlier this week.
On Monday, FAI Director of Football Marc Canham had confirmed that an announcement on the next permanent head coach of the men's team would be made in early April. Canham revealed that contractual obligations had prevented an announcement being made before then:
The process of the appointment of the new permanent head coach is very close to the end and nearing its end point. We look forward to announcing that new permanent head coach in early April.
Existing contractual obligations mean that we're won't be able to announce any further details at this point, but as we have committed to, we will announce that in early April.
The apparent revelation that the preferred candidate would be tied up in another job until early next month led many to believe that they would jump ship to Ireland from another national team, given the international window in late March.
England U21 manager Lee Carsley, seemingly the FAI's leading candidate from the beginning, looked to be the obvious contender with that criteria. However, Wednesday saw interim Technical Advisor Brian Kerr effectively draw the curtains on any hope of Carsley taking the job.
That has left fans scrambling to predict who the next manager could be, with Georgia coach Willy Sagnol's price shortening dramatically overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday.
READ HERE: Brian Kerr Appears To Confirm End Of FAI's Lee Carsley Pursuit
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Ireland manager chase: Willy Sagnol's team confirm they have had no contact from FAI
The odds of the former France international taking over as Ireland manager dropped from 80/1 to as low as 14/1 with some outlets. Those odds place him among the leading contenders, such as Carsley, Gus Poyet, and interim manager John O'Shea.
However, a fresh report from The 42 on Friday morning suggests that Sagnol is not even being considered by the FAI for the role.
7 September 2005; Willy Sagnol, France, in action against Robbie Keane, Republic of Ireland. FIFA 2006 World Cup Qualifier, Group 4, Republic of Ireland v France, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Picture credit; David Maher / SPORTSFILE
Sagnol's representatives were approached for comment by The 42 on this week's rumours and said that they had received no contact from the FAI regarding taking over as Ireland manager.
The ex-Bayern Munich man has led Georgia to this month's EURO 2024 playoffs, as the country seeks to reach a major tournament for the first time in their history. They face Luxembourg in the semi-final in Tbilisi in two weeks, and will face either Greece or Kazakhstan in the final should they progress.
During his playing career, Sagnol was part of the French team which reached the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, starting in every game of that tournament at right-back. He was also a Champions League winner with Bayern Munich in 2001.
His coaching career saw him take charge of a string of French underage teams, before two seasons in charge of Girondins de Bordeaux, in which he brought them to the Europa League group stages. Sagnol was also an assistant during Carlo Ancelotti's ultimately doomed reign as Bayern manager, and served one game as interim boss after Ancelotti's sacking. He has been with Georgia since 2021.
Previously, the FAI had stated that their preference was for an Irish coach - or, at least, an Irish-based coach - as well as someone who brought international experience with them.
Sagnol is the latest name to enter and quickly exit the running in the FAI's chase for an Ireland manager. Just last week, reports flew that Slaven Bilic was on the verge of taking over - before, very quickly, those suggestions were shot down.
We'll be honest, at this stage, it's anyone's game.
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