Peterborough United old boys: International management ambitions, a bad injury and a new contract offer
Former Peterborough United manager Grant McCann will have to put his international ambitions on the backburner for a little while longer.
McCann is on the record as saying he would love to manage the Northern Ireland international team. The 46 year-old won 39 caps for the country.
That opportunity looked likely to arise when current Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill combined the job with steering Blackburn Rovers to safety in the Championship. It was thought O’Neill would start managing Blackburn on a full-time basis.
But O’Neill has instead committed to the rest of his contract with the national team, one that runs until 2028.
There is no suggestion McCann would have applied for the Northern Ireland post at this time as he’s happy, successful and popular at Doncaster Rovers, a team he led to a 14th placed finish in League One last season. A 3-1 last-day win at Posh meant they finished seven points and four places above his old club after winning the League Two title the previous season.
McCann spoke to his club’s media team re the Northern Ireland job recently and said: “I'd love to manage my country. I really would. I think it's the pinnacle of any sort of sport. To manage your country is everything and Northern Ireland have been fortunate they have a really good manager in place at this moment in time in Michael.
"But never say never. I'd love to if they'd have me. I think they have some top, top players coming through in the under 21s and the first team. They're a young up-and-coming team that can do big things in the next few years.”
McCann had two spells as Posh boss, most recently for 11 months from February 2022 before he was sacked to make way for the return of Darren Ferguson.
Elsewhere former Posh loanee defender Ben White has been ruled of the rest of Arsenal’s season with a knee injury which could also force him out of England’s World Cup Finals team.
And former Posh loan goalkeeper Will Norris has been offered a new contract by League One club Wycombe Wanderers. Norris, who was in goal for Posh on that fateful play-off night at Sheffield Wednesday, made 40 appearances for ‘The Chairboys’ last season. His existing deal expires this summer.