Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has revealed that he is close to signing a new deal with the FAI which will see the Italian remain at the helm until 2014.
Trapattoni, now 72, recently led Ireland to the finals of next year's European Championships in Poland and Ukraine and spoke of his desire for a new deal earlier this month.
It now appears his request has been granted as the Italian revealed: "We have agreed in principle and everything is going forward but it is not signed."
He is expected to arrive in the capital Dublin on Wednesday to finalise the deal.
Trapattoni's side will learn their fate when the group stages are decided at the Ukraine Palace of Arts in Kiev on Friday and the former AC Milan, Inter and Juventus coach added that he wants to avoid fellow countryman Fabio Capello and England.
"I would prefer to play them in a friendly. I'm well aware of the history between two nations.
"I'm not concerned about direct confrontation with Capello because coaches are always above anything that concerns the two countries, but it's more the atmosphere and the history of the two countries."
Next year's finals begin on June 8 in Warsaw.
Pascal Lemesre
