After a week of long speculation, the Republic of Ireland's Martin O'Neill has turned down the opportunity to manage Stoke City.
Reports emerging in England appear to suggest that despite being offered the chance of replacing Mark Hughes, O'Neill has opted to remain in international football.
Exclusive: Martin O'Neill turns down Stoke offer to become new manager https://t.co/uOppAzYNSN
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) January 14, 2018
Having worked tirelessly over the past 72 hours to secure O'Neill after being rejected by former Watford manager Quique Sánchez Flores, Stoke City will now have to look elsewhere.
Although such a decision on O'Neill's behalf would suggest that he intends to continue with the Republic of Ireland, the general reaction to his apparent interest in the Premier League role will not make for seamless continuity.
Seemingly intent on taking his backroom staff, including Roy Keane, with him, attention will now turn toward O'Neill, FAI and the as yet unsigned contract extension that almost lost Ireland their manager without any compensation whatsoever.
