Northern Ireland soccer chief Jim Boyce may approach Lawrie McMenemy in his hunt for a new manager. Boyce, who is president of the IFA, feels the former England assistant manager and Southampton coach has the experience and track record he is looking for.

Boyce denied reports that he has already sounded out McMenemy, who resigned as director of football at Southampton last May, but added: "I would not rule him out because Lawrie McMenemy is a manager of the highest possible profile.

"He is an excellent person, someone who has done it at the highest level, so he may be on my list and I may speak to him in the future. But I have not spoken to Lawrie McMenemy, nor has he spoken to me."

Ron Atkinson, Bruce Rioch and Joe Royle have all turned down approaches, while Leicester refused the IFA permission to speak to their manager Martin O'Neill.

Undeterred, Boyce spoke to Terry Venables on Friday and he claims he has more coaches to contact. If the IFA's policy of gunning for a high profile coach from abroad fails, then Boyce claims they will turn to the candidates from Northern Ireland, such as Sammy McIlroy, Jimmy Quinn and Jimmy Nicholl.