Scotland target Michael O’Neill has revealed he is set for talks with the Irish FA about their contract extension offer to keep him as Northern Ireland boss.

The IFA are hoping they have stolen a march in the international tug-of-war on their SFA counterparts who want O’Neill to replace Gordon Strachan and become Scotland’s new manager.

Opening up for the first time about his future since Northern Ireland’s agonising World Cup play-off defeat to Switzerland last month, O’Neill admits he would speak to interested parties but only after they meet the IFA’s stipulations in his current contract – and even then there would be no guarantees about leaving his present post.

For the SFA to begin official discussions with O’Neill they would first have to agree to pay the IFA £500,000 in compensation if successful in their pursuit of the former Dundee United and Hibs player.

Brown is frustrated with the delay

Scotland and Celtic skipper Scott Brown has already questioned the delay in the process, though the SFA believe with the national team’s next game not until March that it is best not to rush proceedings.

The IFA, in contrast, would love to tie O’Neill down to a new deal as quickly as possible.

O’Neill is relaxed about his current situation knowing that the IFA’s new six year contract offer, worth over £4 million, is on the table already.

He pointed out that the speculation surrounding him and the Scotland job was not being driven by him adding if the SFA wanted to move forward they would have to meet the terms in his current £500,000 per year deal which ends in 2020.

O’Neill, who is based in Edinburgh, said: “I’m going to be speaking to the IFA regarding the contract extension they have indicated they would like to give me.

“That’s where it lies at the moment.”

O'Neill will not be drawn on Scotland

Asked about the Scotland job, the 48-year-old said: “That’s just speculation. It’s not been driven by me saying I want the Scotland job.

“If Scotland go forward they have to agree something with the IFA and that hasn’t been done as far as I know.”

O’Neill suggested his link with the vacant Scotland role has led to him being recognised much more in the country where he lives.

He added: “I had a certain level of anonymity in Scotland but that’s not just the way it is now because there has been so much speculation about the Scotland situation."

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