Neil Lennon is the bookies' favourite to become the next Ireland manager after further disappointing results have heaped pressure on Stephen Kenny's future as boss.
Ireland were held in a 1-1 draw at home to Azerbaijan as their first home game in front of a crowd in almost two years ended in frustration for the home fans hoping to witness an upturn in fortunes for the side.
Despite starting well, Ireland went behind on the stroke of half time thanks to Emin Makhmudov's wonderful 25-yard curling effort and went in stunned at the break.
A second half revival began in earnest but it wasn't until the 87th minute that Ireland found an equaliser through Shane Duffy's header, and they couldn't press on and find the winning goal.
The result registered Ireland's first point in a World Cup qualifying group where they are now languishing in fourth place above only yesterday's opponents and qualification for Qatar is now off the cards.
Kenny was in disbelief after a result which was his sixth draw to go along with eight defeats since becoming boss.
He said: "It is probably a game we deserved to win three or four-one.
“We created a lot of chances on the day and it was a game we deserved to win but just didn’t win."
Kenny was asked in light of the result if he felt that the job had become too much for him to take on, to which he responded defiantly.
He said: “Absolutely not. We were absolutely exceptional against Portugal, we played very well against Hungary, in the previous game we scored four goals.
"The previous game against Qatar we played well, obviously we had a poor game against Luxembourg and the previous game against Serbia was excellent.
“We have played an awful lot of good football.
"Today, if we win 2-1 we are having a different conversation so we are kicking ourselves that we haven’t won that game.”
Nonetheless, the result is lingering long and casting its shadow after a week in which there was great hope after a hugely impressive showing against Portugal ended in a cruel 2-1 defeat.
It remains to be seen the time Kenny will be allowed to foster dependence on a predominantly youthful team and how much patience Irish fans will have in waiting for promising performances translate into positive results.
Former Celtic, Hibernian FC and Bolton boss leads the shortlist of potential replacements and is priced at 23/10 with Paddy Power at the time of writing to become the next permanent manager of the Ireland team.
Next on the list is former Ireland international Roy Keane, who previously worked as assistant manager to Martin O'Neill during the Northern Irishman's reign with the Boys in Green. Keane is fancied at 11/2 to be the next man in.
Next Ireland manager odds:
Neil Lennon - 23/10
Roy Keane - 11/2
Keith Andrew - 13/2
Damien Duff - 8/1
Michael O'Neill - 12/1
