Under-fire Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy is expected to discuss his job future with FAI officials this evening. Details of the meeting remain sketchy, however, newspaper reports claim that details of a possible severance package for the former Millwall manager will be high on the agenda.
Rumours regarding McCarthy’s reign as Irish boss has been rife following the recent Euro 2004 qualifying defeats to Russia and Switzerland. This week the speculation has intensified, focussing less on the question of whether or not McCarthy will go and more on how much his anticipated departure would cost the cash-strapped FAI. The Star newspaper reported today that the FAI may be prepared to fork out as much as €100,000 to McCarthy, who has still 12 months of his €500,000-per-year salary to run. And it is also believed that assistant manager Ian Evans could also be in line for a ‘golden handshake’.
Former Wales boss John Toshack, recently-sacked Leeds manager and former Republic of Ireland manager David O’Leary, Luton manager Joe Kinnear and former Ireland player and Tranmere boss John Aldridge are among the names being mentioned as possible replacements for McCarthy – should he go. | 
