O'Neill stays but Rovers stint will have 'turned heads'

O'Neill stays but Rovers stint will have 'turned heads'Image source, InphoImage caption, Michael O'Neill began his second spell as NI manager in December 2022ByRichard PetrieBBC Sport NI JournalistPublished1 minute agoCommentsMichael O'Neill's decision to remain as Northern Ireland manager rather than agree a longer term contract with Blackburn Rovers is likely to have induced a collective sigh of relief in the corridors of the Irish Football Association and among supporters of the international team.The Championship club were keen to retain the services of the 56-year-old after he steered them to safety from relegation during his interim spell in charge. However, after some consideration, O'Neill has decided that his immediate future lies as a boss in the international arena rather than in club football.With the Euro 2028 finals being held across Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, qualification for another major tournament is an obvious goal over the coming years, O'Neill having previously memorably guided Northern Ireland to the Euro 2016 finals in France.O'Neill will now have further opportunity to shape his promising young squad, who have brought a renewed energy and excitement to the national team in recent times."I'm delighted he's staying. I think the progress of the young group over the past two or three years has been a joy to watch," former Northern Ireland defender Stephen Craigan told BBC Sport NI's Thomas Kane."There's no doubt there is lots of potential still in them, lots of growth still in them, and at this early stage of their development in international football a change of manager may just have upset them a little bit with regards to their rhythm and their fluency and any cohesion they have built up over the last couple of years."Ultimately short term he has committed himself to this young group of players and I think it will set them up for a couple of g...