Martin O'Neill has admitted he'd consider stepping down from the Irish manager's job if things went badly awry in the 2016 European qualifying campaign. An abject effort would see Ireland looking for a new manager at the end of this year, but if the performances match what he witnessed in the second half against Poland, he says he would be likely to stay on.
If we went out with a whimper then I'd look at myself. But if we go out and show what we are capable of doing, the drive and determination that we showed against Poland and in the rest of the campaign, then I would certainly look at it.
The last few qualifications that could be said to have ended with a whimper all resulted in the manager losing their job.
Ireland's 2014 World Cup qualifying chances ended officially with two matches left - though with three games remaining, they were already rather remote. Giovanni Trapattoni packed his bags after a 1-0 loss in Austria.
The 2008 qualifying campaign was a harrowing one and Stan was mutually consented before the end. The 1986 campaign drifted to a depressing conclusion and ended with Eoin Hand getting sacked and then tossing his drink in Eamon Dunphy's face in Joys nightclub in Baggot Street.
Ireland are slight favourites to end up fourth in this group, as they did in the last qualifying campaign but O'Neill's comments indicate his decision to remain would depend more on performances than the bottom line.
[Independent]
