O'Neill open to leaving N Ireland after Blackburn stay up

Michael O'Neill has left the door open to leaving his role as Northern Ireland boss after Blackburn secured their Championship safety on Wednesday night.

O'Neill admitted he had "maybe underestimated" the challenge of juggling the dual roles - having taken on the Blackburn job in February when the club were 22nd in the Championship, yet remaining in charge of Northern Ireland for their World Cup qualifying play-off defeat against Italy last month.

After Blackburn's 3-1 win at Sheffield United, O'Neill admitted the situation could not continue beyond the end of the season, but did not commit either way as to where his career would take him next.

Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, O'Neill said: "You can't do both, there's no way you could do both because I was only able to do the two things because the (play-off) game was in March, there's no way you could do it when the games are in September, October, November, it's just... it's not possible.

"It was tough enough, to be honest, and I maybe underestimated that a little bit but I was fortunate I had a really good staff at Northern Ireland.

"The team were extremely well prepared for the Italy game. Unfortunately we didn't get over the line in that game, but at some point I'll have to make a decision one way or the other."

When he was asked about his future during the international window, O'Neill indicated he intended to finish the season with Blackburn and then he would return to the "status quo" as Northern Ireland boss, with his contract with the Irish FA running until 2028.

Speaking after Wednesday night's win, he did not rule out continuing in club football either with Blackburn or elsewhere, which would mean leaving Northern Ireland for a second time.

O'Neill's first stint as Northern Ireland boss - which was highlighted by taking the country to Euro 2016, came to a close in early 2020 after he had taken the Stoke job.

"Look, of course those discussions will take place, you know the club have a decision to make themselves, on what direction they want to go," O'Neill said.

"I'm a contracted manager, so the situation doesn't really change from, I suppose for any club, if they wanted me as a manager, they would have to go through the IFA, they would have to meet the terms of the release clause and I would have to want to do it.

"That's existed at any point of my management career at international level and it's the same now."

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