Irish bid to keep McCarthy for 2006

Ireland Football Association officials want Mick McCarthy to lead the squad to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

Irish football officials have already approached McCarthy's agent to open talks on a new deal - no matter what happens in tomorrow night's Group E showdown with Saudi Arabia in Yokohama.

Ireland can qualify for the second phase of the 2002 finals if they score at least two goals and beat the Saudis, no matter what happens between Germany and Cameroon.

"This is the biggest game of my life but I am quietly confident that we can win through and get the result we need," said McCarthy as speculation mounted about his long-term future with Ireland.

His contract expires at the end of the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal and FAI officials are now desperate to keep him for at least another two years after that.

"It is true that we will be talking to the FAI about Mick's future but only after the World Cup finals," said McCarthy's agent Liam Gaskin in Tokyo this morning.

"No decision will be made regarding Mick until after Ireland's involvement at this tournament comes to an end and we hope that is still some way away. Mick will sit down then with the FAI and listen to what they have to say. He is under contract for another two years. After that we have to wait and see."

McCarthy's relationship with his employers has been strengthened by the way he handled the Roy Keane affair, ultimately expelling his captain for his behaviour at the World Cup training camp in Saipan.

"We would be mad to lose Mick McCarthy as manager," said FAI president Milo Corcoran. "I would love to see him stay until the next World Cup and I know that is what the FAI want."

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