Chris Hughton does not want the Ireland job

GOING NOWHERE: Chris Hughton prefers to manage clubs over countries

Norwich City boss Chris Hughton has chosen not to take over the reigns of the Irish national football team from ex-manager Giovanni Trapattoni. Sky Sports reports.

Trapattoni was removed from his post this week after Ireland slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Austria on Tuesday, ending Ireland’s dreams of a World Cup berth.

Hughton maintained that he was happy managing Norwich. Other names in the running for the Ireland manager’s post include former Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill current Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy.

“I am manager of Norwich, I am extremely happy here. We spent and invested

more this summer than we ever have done. I have had support from the board here,” he said.

“I understand my name has been mentioned along with other previous players for Ireland. It is absolutely just speculation.

“I have a group of supporters who are fanatical and want this team to do well and I have the same challenges here as the supporters and the players have. I am incredibly happy here.

“There has been no official approach. We are a club I would like to think which is going in the right direction.

“There will be some very good names mentioned. I don’t know which way they will go but there won’t be any shortage of candidates.”

Hughton was capped 53 time for Ireland in a football career spanning 12 years and was present in all three of the final matches in Euro 1988.

The 54-year-old served the national team from 2003 to 2005 as Brian Kerr’s understudy.

Hughton spend most of his football career playing for Tottenham Hotspur and served as the assistant manager of the team for a decade.