Source: Team_Talk
Shamrock to resist O'Neill interest
Shamrock Rovers chairman Jonathan Roache will not welcome any interest in his boss Michael O'Neill from Hibernian.[LNB] The former Easter Road midfielder has emerged as one of the front-runners to replace John Hughes, who left the Edinburgh club on Monday by mutual consent after a nightmare start to the season.[LNB]O'Neill is close to delivering Rovers a first Premier League title success for 16 years while they are also FAI Cup semi-finalists.[LNB]And with that in mind Roache, who has begun negotiations to extend ex-Brechin boss O'Neill's deal which has 12 months left, told the Scottish Sun: "It's understandable Michael is going to be linked with other jobs because he has done brilliantly for Shamrock.[LNB]"But we wouldn't appreciate interest from anyone.[LNB]"We are close to winning the league for the first time in 16 years and this is an unwelcome distraction.[LNB]"Michael has a year left of his contract and a few weeks ago we started talking to him about extending that.[LNB]"I regard him as the best young manager in Ireland and as good a prospect as there would be in Scotland and England.[LNB]"We're an ambitious club and hope Michael will be with us long term."[LNB]Meanwhile, Hibs chairman Rod Petrie addressed the club's annual general meeting last night and pledged they would take their time to find Hughes' successor.[LNB]He said: "The two weeks (break for internationals) gives us some breathing space, but we do not see it as imperative to have a new management team in place for the Kilmarnock game.[LNB]"We would rather take the time to make the right appointment.[LNB]"I'm sure when our next manager is appointed he will be somebody we will all welcome.[LNB]"We all liked John and are sorry to see him go, but it has given us the best opportunity to get back to winning ways."[LNB]
