MICHAEL O’Neill has warned the Scottish Football Association they may struggle to prise him away from the Northern Ireland job.
Hampden chiefs have been granted permission to talk to the 48-year-old about becoming Gordon Strachan’s replacement as Scotland boss following the country’s failure to gain even a play-off spot for Russia next year.
But a month after the SFA made their approach, O’Neill says discussions have yet to even begin.
Instead, he confirmed he has opened negotiations with the Irish Football Association about extending his Northern Ireland deal – which expires in 2020 – for another four years.
O’Neill – who has also been linked with the Untied States vacancy – led his country to their first major tournament in three decades when they qualified for Euro 2016.
But he has been tipped to call time on his six-year reign after failing to reach next summer’s World Cup following an agonising and controversial play-off loss to Switzerland.
However, speaking to the BBC, O’Neill said: “There’s been a lot of speculation since the World Cup play-off defeat (to Switzerland) – speculation driven by others, driven by the media.
“At this minute in time, I’m still under contract with the IFA and there’s two years to go on that contract,” O’Neill added.
“Discussions have begun about extending that contract.
“There’s not a deal on the table. It’s early days in the discussions but my focus is on doing the job I’m in at the minute.
“I’m contracted to 2020 and hopefully in 2020 I can take the team to the European Championships again.
“There’s been no discussions (with other national teams) at all.
“People are always assuming that I’m going to make a decision to leave the position but I’ve never said that.
“I know the SFA has indicated they would like to speak with me but there’s been nothing more than that.
“(The Northern Ireland) job is one that’s very important to me and I’ve worked very hard at it and it’s not one I’m going to leave very easily.”
All of which should set alarm bells ringing at Hampden.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here