Sanchez set for contract talks

12 April 2012

Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez will meet the Irish Football Association next month to discuss his future.

The team are making rapid progress in the Euro 2008 qualifiers under Sanchez's management and will go top of Group F if they defeat current leaders Sweden on Wednesday at Windsor Park.

IFA president Jim Boyce told the Belfast News Letter: "Howard Wells (chief executive) and I have spoken to Lawrie to discuss the situation. We have agreed to sit down for talks in April about ensuring Lawrie remains manager of Northern Ireland."

He added: "Everyone is aware I hope he continues in the job, which he has been doing brilliantly."

After losing to Iceland in their opening qualifier, Northern Ireland have responded brilliantly.

They stunned Spain in the next match with a 3-2 victory and have also beaten Latvia and Liechtenstein.

In addition the province won plaudits after taking a point off Denmark in Copenhagen.

In the process Northern Ireland have moved up to 47th place in the world rankings, overtaking the Republic of Ireland and Wales.