Irish FA chiefs have moved to fast track the appointment of Northern Ireland’s new manager with face-to-face interviews scheduled for Belfast tomorrow.
It is understood up to four candidates have been selected for the process which will include a detailed presentation and formal interview.
Ian Baraclough, Tommy Wright, Jim Magilton and Stephen Robinson have all been strongly linked with the vacant post in recent weeks.
The experienced Wright, who stepped down as St Johnstone manager last month, is currently the bookies' favourite to succeed Michael O’Neill who left the job in April.
But Northern Ireland U21s coach Baraclough is rated highly by those in the corridors of power and is still considered a frontrunner by those in the know.
Former Ipswich Town boss Magilton is part of the Irish FA structure in his elite performance director role, while Robinson has impressed in his two years as Motherwell boss.
The former seven-times capped midfielder led the Fir Park club to a third place finish in the SPFL and was recently pipped to the manager of the year award by Celtic’s Neil Lennon.
The IFA are keen to have their new man in place well in advance of Northern Ireland’s next Nations League double header against Romania (A) and Norway (H) in September.
A crucial Euro 2020 playoff semi-final also lies in wait in Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 8, with the play-off final against either the Republic of Ireland or Slovakia on November 12.
