MARTIN O’NEILL has ruled out a return to Leicester City, after deciding it would be a mistake to go back to a club where he enjoyed five years of unprecedented success.

The Northern Irishman had refused to dismiss the idea initially and was giving serious consideration to finding out more about the club’s potential under the Thai owners but, after weighing up the pros and cons, O’Neill has come to the conclusion that returning would be a risk not worth taking.

O’Neill’s decision will come as a disappointment to Leicester supporters, although many will have felt that it was always going to be difficult to tempt back a manager who has been holding out for a Premier League job since he left Aston Villa on the eve of last season.

O’Neill, who had been installed as the favourite for the Leicester position as soon as Sven-Goran Eriksson was sacked on Monday, recently said he was not interested in taking charge of Northern Ireland because he was hoping to return to club management.

While O’Neill waits for the right opportunity, Leicester will continue finalising a shortlist. “I have to open my mind now. It is not just what the news or fans want,” Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, the Leicester vice-chairman, said.

“I have to listen to everyone and make a decision very carefully. The next manager has to know this league because it’s very tough, very tight.”

Those words would appear to rule out Mark Hughes and Paul Ince, who have both been linked with the position but have not worked in the second tier.

Roy Keane, who won promotion from the Championship with Sunderland, is interested in the job.

It is understood Brian McDermott, the Reading manager, is highly regarded. Simon Grayson, the Leeds United manager and a former Leicester player, and Lee Clark, who has impressed at Huddersfield Town, have both dismissed speculation that they are in the running.

Guardian Service