Hull City have began the Premier League season, better than they could have hoped with wins over champions Leicester City and Swansea City in their opening two games.
Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has been in charge of the team since Steve Bruce resigned. The club are on the verge of a takeover by Chinese investors, and according to The Sun, Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill is their top target to take charge of the newly promoted side.
O'Neill has not managed in the Premier League since March 2013. He has spent time in charge of Leicester, Aston Villa and Sunderland in the top-flight either side of a successful spell with Celtic, in Scotland.
The Manager is expecting Group D to be an extremely tough one. Predictions for this evening? #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/ODkD5xMAgm
— FAIreland (@FAIreland) September 5, 2016
The Derry native begins his second qualification campaign with Ireland on Monday night away to Serbia in Belgrade. O'Neill will be on the sidelines, despite having not signed his new contract with the FAI. His original contract ran out after Ireland's loss to France at Euro 2016.
A contract has been agreed between O'Neill and the FAI since before Euro 2016, but it remains unsigned. Three months after it was announced as agreed, the Hull city scenario leaves the FAI in a potentially awkward situation.
O'Neill has not publicly made any noises over dissatisfaction with the FAI over the lack of progress, but his contract situation makes him an ideal candidate for potential suitors.
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