The Irish Football Association (IFA) admit they are looking at their long-term options even though Lawrie Sanchez - appointed caretaker boss of Fulham until the end of the season - intends to see out his contract with Northern Ireland.
The former Wycombe Wanderers manager takes over following the sacking on Tuesday night of Chris Coleman.
IFA chief executive Howard Wells said: "Lawrie wants to make it absolutely clear he remains committed to Northern Ireland.
"We do not have any contingency plans in place but any self-respecting organisation is going to be looking at what may or may not happen. We are thinking about our options were Lawrie to stay or go, assuming there may be offers for him.
"You would be foolish to think he would resign one day and you would find somebody the next."
Under Sanchez's stewardship Northern Ireland have shot up the world rankings and are in with a good chance of qualifying for a major tournament for the first time in more than 20 years. They lead Group F in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. Sanchez's contract expires at the end of the campaign and his stock is rising.
Sanchez might consider managing both club and country if his short spell at Fulham is successful and they avoid relegation.
He is clear of international commitments until August when Northern Ireland restart their qualifying campaign at home against Liechtenstein.
Wells said: "We will be talking to Fulham again at the end of the season to see where we are. While this situation came out of the blue, they approached us properly. All you can do is respond. It would have been churlish not to agree to allow him to do it."
Sanchez is due to meet the Fulham players for the first time today when he will take training. Then he will finalise preparations for his first match in charge, against Reading, on Saturday.
England's first game back at Wembley will be against Brazil. The five-time world champions were named yesterday as the opposition for the first friendly at the rebuilt national stadium on Friday, June 1st.
Colombia, meanwhile, have withdrawn their bid to host the 2014 World Cup leaving Brazil as the only candidate to stage the event, a source at the Colombian Football Federation (FCF) said yesterday.
South America is due to stage the tournament under a rotation system introduced by Fifa. The other eight South American federations have all backed Brazil.
Brazil hosted the 1950 World Cup and also launched a bid for the 2006 event but withdrew two days before the final vote.
Diego Maradona has been released from hospital in Buenos Aires. The 1986 World Cup-winning skipper was hospitalised two weeks ago after falling ill with what was later described as an over-indulgence in smoking, drinking and eating.
