'I want to stay' - Vera Pauw hopes new deal can be nailed down

Vera Pauw is keen to stick around as Republic of Ireland manager but insisted she's letting others sort out the finer details of a contract extension as she focuses completely on the upcoming World Cup.

Earlier this month she indicated that talks had started between herself and the FAI, admitting she was hoping to get things signed off before heading to Australia for the tournament, which begins on 20 July.

Pauw, whose current deal expires later this summer, is coming up on the four-year anniversary of her appointment, with the UEFA Nations League and Euro 2025 qualification campaigns to look forward to, as well as a first ever game at the Aviva Stadium. The Republic of Ireland will play Northern Ireland at the Lansdowne Road venue in September.

Speaking to the media ahead of Thursday night's friendly against Zambia, she said: "For now I'm just busy with the World Cup. We need to be ready on the 20th of July. That needs my full, full attention.

"We have our plans in between the games and we’ll see how far we come. Let me be clear, I’m very happy in Ireland. Everybody can see that. Everybody feels that. I want to stay. But I’m not part of that process.

"[Her consultant] Ciaran Medlar is talking. I’m not involved in that. I do talk of course about the content with management, like I always do, but he takes care of that."

"The fact that this is coming up gives me sleepless nights."

Pauw will name her 23-player squad for the World Cup tomorrow week. The friendly against Zambia provides several players with one last chance to force their way into her plans, with the manager admitting the process of whittling down the current 31-player panel is proving to be desperately difficult.

When asked how she plans to inform the unlucky few who