Former City Player Turns Down Scotland Job

Last updated : 22 January 2018 By CNS Sport/AO

Former Coventry City player Michael O'Neill has turned down the offer to become the next manager of the Scotland national team.

The SFA had been looking for a replacement for the former City player and manager Gordon Strachan, who was sacked in November and wanted the Northern Ireland manager, who is based in Edinburgh.

Talks about compensation had begun but O'Neill has decided to stay as manager of the Northern Ireland national team and has signed a new deal which takes him up to 2024.

O'Neill released the following statement:

"Having given the matter a great deal of thought and consideration, I have decided not to take up the opportunity to become the next Scotland National Team Manager.

"It’s a huge honour to be offered the position however I do not feel that this is the right opportunity for me at this moment in my career.

"I would like to place on record my gratitude to the SFA for the very professional manner in which they conducted negotiations and I would also like to wish them every success in the future."