"No decision will be made regarding Mick until after Ireland's involvement at this tournament comes to an end and we hope that is still some way away. Mick will sit down then with the FAI and listen to what they have to say. He is under contract for another two years. After that we have to wait and see."
McCarthy's relationship with his employers has been strengthened by the way he handled the Roy Keane affair, ultimately expelling his captain for his behaviour at the World Cup training camp in Saipan.
"We would be mad to lose Mick McCarthy as manager," said FAI president Milo Corcoran. "I would love to see him stay until the next World Cup and I know that is what the FAI want."
