The Contenders/Mary Hannigan: JOHN TOSHACK (9-4):Do the bookies know something we don't? Or do we, unprecedentedly, know more than the bookies?
A Paddy Power spokesman told football website Setanta that Toshack's odds for the job had shortened "following the rumours that he had been seen in Dublin". But seeing as he's a Champions League studio analyst for TV3 it's hardly surprising he's been spotted around town. The one thing you can say about Toshack, though, is he's not short of managerial experience after spells with (deep breath) Sporting Lisbon, Real Sociedad (three times), Real Madrid (twice), Wales, Deportivo Coruna and Besiktas. And he's only 53.
JOE KINNEAR (2-1):
One of the candidates to succeed Jack Charlton in 1996 Kinnear, having recovered from heart problems, returned to manage second division Luton after a hugely successful spell with Wimbledon between 1992 and 1999. "I don't know if I'll ever get to a sexy club," he lamented a few years ago, while conceding he'd "probably missed the boat" at international level. Admitted his interest in the Irish job last week, though, promising to bring Brian Kerr into the senior set-up. ("Who's Joe Kinnear managing now," the Sky News-reader asked her sports reporter yesterday. "Um, you've asked me a tricky question," he said, melting from view).
JOHN ALDRIDGE (7-2):
Out of work since leaving Tranmere Rovers last year Aldo, as he's known in the trade, probably deserves the job as compensation for all that running he did for Jack Charlton. Hardly possesses the required experience but would happily give his eye teeth for the job.
DAVID O'LEARY (9-2): While all was going swimmingly at Leeds O'Leary insisted international management was for old men: "I hope I can survive in this (the Leeds job) until maybe between 50 and 55, and then, if your country took pity on you . . ." Now that he's between jobs, O'Leary, you'd have thought, might have tried to convince the FAI that it's time to take pity on a wrinkly 44-year-old, but he denied all interest in the job yesterday. We'll see.
MARTIN O'NEILL (12-1): Hmm, unlikely. But how about this set of musical chairs: McCarthy goes to Celtic, O'Neill goes to Manchester United, Alex Ferguson takes over as Republic of Ireland supremo? No? Only a suggestion.
RONNIE WHELAN (14-1): The possessor of one of the wackier managerial CVs - Southend and Panionos (Athens). Like Aldridge, his CV might be a bit too light.
BRIAN KERR (16-1): The most successful Republic of Ireland manager of all-time but they tell us that because he never played at the highest level cross channel he could never gain the respect of players earning £25,000-£50,000-a-week. Probably true, but how much more can this man do to prove he's ready for the Big Chance?
ALEX FERGUSON (16-1): Probably improbable, but at least, if he moved over here, he'd be close to his horses who, it seems, are in considerably better form these days than his players. True, Rock of Gibraltar finished second in that big race, but, at this rate, second is more than his football team could ever hope for in the Premiership this season.
GEORGE BURLEY (16-1): No.
TERRY VENABLES (16-1): Get a grip.
GEORGE GRAHAM (20-1): Ah lads.
BRYAN ROBSON (20-1): Now you're just being silly.
PETER REID (25-1): Reid as manager, Quinn as his assistant? Mmm, could work.
NIALL QUINN (33-1): See above.
ROY KEANE (80-1): The obvious choice, really.
SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON (80-1): Hey, don't laugh: if you had to put up with what this man has had to put up with over the past couple of months you'd regard the FAI as employers from heaven. Still, it's probably more likely Ulrika Johnson will be appointed as McCarthy's successor.
DENIS IRWIN (100-1): Well, put it this way: the two quietest members of the Manchester United squad through the 1990s were Irwin and Mark Hughes, neither of whom, all agreed, would ever make a manager. Look at Hughesie now. If he can make Wales an international force then Dinny Irwin can sure as hell take the Republic to the heights.
EAMON DUNPHY (500-1): With Keane as his assistant? There'd never be a dull moment.
