Soccer

Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson says it would be "massive honour" to manage Northern Ireland if SFA appoint Michael O'Neill

 Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill  
 Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill    Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill  

Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson admitted it would be a "massive honour" to manage Northern Ireland if Michael O'Neill leaves his role.

Press Association Sport understands that O'Neill has been approached by the Scottish Football Association to replace Gordon Strachan at Hampden Park, and Robinson would be a contender for the Northern Ireland job.

The Motherwell manager served as assistant to O'Neill until Euro 2016 and has since made a huge impression at Fir Park, guiding his side into the final of the Betfred Cup and up to fifth in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Though Robinson insists he is happy at Well, the 42-year-old from Lisburn admitted the chance to manage his country would be as good as it gets.

"It's a massive honour for me (to be linked with the job)," he said ahead of his side's trip to Aberdeen. "To manage your country and even be linked with that is huge.

"I take great pride in being from Northern Ireland and being part of the set-up before was a massive part of things for me.

"It's great but as it stands at this moment in time, I'm the Motherwell manager, I'm very much enjoying it and Michael is the manager of Northern Ireland we must not forget.

"He hasn't made that decision yet so at the minute nothing changes and I'm very happy at Motherwell."

He added: "Everybody has an ambition, it's probably the top level of your management career to manage your country, it's huge.

"Whether it's at this time or further down the line for me, that remains to be seen.

"I reiterate, I'm really happy at Motherwell, the club has been fantastic to me and my focus is on that.

"Michael is the manager of Northern Ireland and for me I hope he remains there and I genuinely mean that because he's been a massive success and my kids would be devastated if he leaves!"

It is undestood that O'Neill has been approached by the Scottish Football Association with a view to taking over.

It emerged that the SFA has made an official approach for the Northern Irishman to replace Gordon Strachan, who left the role in October.

O'Neill has long been considered the leading candidate to take the job after Strachan departed Hampden, and Northern Ireland's exit from the World Cup qualifying play-offs has prompted a scramble for the in-demand manager.

Motherwell boss Robinson, also feels the Northern Ireland boss would have a major impact with Scotland but has no idea whether he would accept the challenge.

Robinson, who stepped down as Northern Ireland assistant after Euro 2016, said: "He has about 35/36 players to choose from, four or five from the Premier League and the rest made up from League Two and our leagues - what he's done with that amount of players and achieved has been incredible. If you're sitting on an international board, he'd be at the forefront of your mind most definitely.

"What Scotland have is a bigger pool of players and a professional league in the country, a massive support and massive media attention, whereas Northern Ireland is a part-time league and we don't have the pool of players. Scotland have improved in the last few months.

"I cant speak for Michael, but there's obviously a lot of potential."

Robinson has not spoken to his former colleague about Scotland's interest.

"I know there are club jobs apparently interested as well and they are two completely different jobs," he added.

"International football is six or seven games a year, you have a life outside of it, more down time and more thinking time whereas a club job is more full-on and takes over your life. 

"That's a decision he has to make, and he's earned the right and he's entitled to do that.

"He's a shrewd cookie, Michael, so I know whatever he does will be the right decision."

The ball is now in the court of the Irish Football Association, which has O'Neill under contract until the end of the next European Championship campaign, with Sunderland and the United States also thought to be interested, while Rangers has also been touted as a possible destination.

O'Neill, who lives in Edinburgh and is a former Hibernian and Dundee United player, refused to comment on his future after his side were denied a place in their first World Cup since 1986 following a controversial 1-0 aggregate defeat at the hands of Switzerland on Tuesday night.

"No, I haven't even considered that," he said. "Tonight is about being with my players, spending time with them and making sure they are OK.

"As I said to the players themselves, there is no need to make any rash decisions on anything they want to do."

Malky Mackay has been ruled out of the job on a permanent basis by SFA chief Stewart Regan, having overseen the friendly defeat to Holland last week.

Scotland's next match is likely to be in March with talks taking place over a friendly in Morocco.