Neil Lennon responds to rumours linking him to the Ireland job

Hibernian manager Neil Lennon has said that he is happy concentrating on his job at Hibs after he was linked with taking over as the next Republic of Ireland manager.

The FAI parted ways with manager Martin O'Neill and assistant Roy Keane on Wednesday bringing an end to their five year tenure with the national team. Reports surfaced on Thursday suggesting that former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was flying over to Dublin this weekend to discuss the job and Lennon has said that he is flattered by the offer but has not heard from the FAI about the role.

"Look it is just speculation. I am flattered if there is a link but I have not seen anything or heard anything regarding myself," Lennon said ahead of Saturday's visit of Dundee. "All I have been doing is concentrating on us getting back into form because that is important."

Meanwhile Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny put forward his case to take over the Irish team, which was supported by League of Ireland club St. Patrick's Athletic, in an interview with The Irish Times' Emmet Malone where he outlines the style of football he would try and implement should he assume the role.

"Do I think that I could take charge of the next generation of Irish players and turn them into a really cohesive team; combining the best virtues of Irish sides – the honesty, work-rate and passion that we’ve shown down the years – but introducing a more European style of play, a more fluid and expansive way? Yes, I do."

"Well, philosophy is an overused word," he continued.

"But it's the way I view the game and I think it’s the way a lot of players love to play the game. "Midfield players love to be able to join in, to receive in on the half-turn, link with their front players, there must be movement off the line from wide players, full backs overlapping, connections..."

McCarthy is still viewed as the frontrunner for the job as the FAI look to finalise a replacement for O'Neill and Keane ahead of next year's Euro 2020 qualifiers.