O'Neill reaffirms commitment to NI despite WBA links

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill says links with West Bromwich Albion are flattering, but has outlined his commitment to his current job.

On the verge of 2 vital Euro 2020 qualifying games, O'Neill has again found himself among the mix of managers being considered to take charge at the Hawthorns.

"There will be interest, there will be potential approaches. There are a lot of names linked with a lot of jobs, and while you're sometimes linked with a job, you never really know where you are on that list.

"The focus for me is to keep my reputation as high as possible, and to do that, I must prepare the team here as well as possible," said O'Neill.

West Brom are seeking a permanent replacement after controversially sacking Darren Moore in March with the club sitting in 4th place in the Championship - where they would eventually finish.

The club have also blown through a staggering 11 managers in O'Neill's 7 years with the IFA.

"I have a lot of stability in my job. I have a good relationship with the IFA and there's a lot of transparency there, and I signed a long-term contract. But obviously, there's a lot more instability in club football.

"That stability is something you're looking for in a club. It doesn't exist and I'm not foolish enough to think that it exists readily, particularly in the Championship where everyone is striving for the Premier League and decisions are made quick," said O'Neill.

Northern Ireland are currently going through training camps based in Manchester ahead of June qualifying games away to Estonia and Belarus.