NI soccer manager accepts extended two-year contract

Sammy McIlroy has accepted a new two-year contract to manage Northern Ireland.

The offer was made to McIlroy on Wednesday evening after a meeting of the Irish Football Association international committee.

Although the Northern Ireland side have lost their last six matches, McIlroy has impressed officials with the way he has rebuilt both the squad and team-morale.

His new contract will cover Northern Ireland's qualifying campaign for Euro 2004.

The IFA also confirmed a friendly against Spain in Belfast on 17 April while Northern Ireland will also take on McIlroy's former club Macclesfield. This match will cover part of the agreement agreed between the two sides when McIlroy moved from the English league to take up his international post.

Wednesday’s meeting also discussed the arrest of four Northern Ireland players and the goalkeeping coach by Czech police after the recent World Cup Qualifying match between Northern Ireland and the Czech Republic.

Goalkeeping coach Wright plus players Michael Hughes, David Healy, Glenn Ferguson and Peter Kennedy were detained for questioning after an alleged incident in a Prague nightclub.

The IFA were widely criticised for not leaving an official in Prague when Czech police detained five squad members on the day after the match.

While the five were eventually released without charge, it is believed that the Czech authorities are still deciding whether to press charges against four of the quintet. (MB)