Stoke City contact Martin O’Neill about manager’s job

Is a return to Premier League management on the cards for Martin O'Neill?

Martin O'Neill's managerial record in the Premier League is pretty damn good. No team has been relegated from the English top flight with the Derry man at the helm. Under his watch, Leicester City were promoted from the then-First Division and remained in the Premier League while Aston Villa and Sunderland avoided the drop. He also won two League Cup trophies during his tenure at the Foxes. So it's perhaps unsurprising that a current Premier League team that are in serious danger of being relegated to the Championship are sniffing about to see if they can draft in the Republic of Ireland boss. Stoke City, who are currently languishing in 18th place in the Premier League, have made contact with O'Neill, according to a report from the Guardian. The Potters are looking to hold talks with O'Neill about the possibility of making a return to club football, although they have other candidates in mind. The club are on the search for a new manager following Mark Hughes' dismissal after Saturday's FA Cup defeat to Coventry City. O'Neill is closer to the top of their shortlist after Gary Rowett pledged his future to Derby County. Although Slaven Bilic is the bookies’ favourite, it is understood that Stoke are not minded to make a move for the former West Ham United manager as they work through their list of candidates. O’Neill reached a verbal agreement about a new two-year contract with the Republic of Ireland in November, but he has yet to put pen to paper on that deal.

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