The Scottish Football Association (FA) have made an official approach to Home Nations’ rivals, Northern Ireland (NI), for their manager Michael O’Neill.

They have asked for permission to speak to O’Neill as Northern Ireland desperately try to hang on to the 48-year old.

The former Shamrock Rovers manager is the SFA’s number one candidate to succeed Gordon Strachan, who resigned as Scotland manager in October after his team failed to reach the World Cup play-offs.

The Irish Football Association has already offered O’Neill an improved contract in a bid to retain his services. He is currently under contract until 2020 with an annual salary of £500,000.

He has been in charge of Northern Ireland for six years (since 2011).

His team missed out on World Cup qualification in controversial fashion after they lost 1-0 on aggregate to Switzerland in the playoffs.

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