McCarthy in shock Korea link

Wolves will fight to keep Mick McCarthy at Molineux if their manager is offered the chance to take over as South Korea's national coach.

The news that McCarthy was one of two candidates, along with former France, Liverpool and Lyons coach Gerard Houllier, who would be offered the job by the weekend stunned Molineux officials today.

But it has not shaken the high esteem in which McCarthy is held - or altered their determination to keep a manager credited with a club-reviving first year at the club in the wake of the summer 2006 turmoil which brought him to the post.

The KFA has been in talks with several coaches since Pim Verbeek's resignation in July after the Asian Cup but has narrowed the choice down to the two high-profile figures.

"A final decision will be made very soon. It's 50-50 between the two," said KFA spokesman You Young-chul on the head-to-head showdown between McCarthy and Houllier.

As the 48-year-old Yorkshireman went into key talks with owner Steve Morgan and Chief Executive Jez Moxey, it is now not disputed that they face a major job in hanging on to their manager. As well as the exotic prospect of managing South Korea, it is understood that the Irish FA are seriously considering going back to their former boss to offer him a second chance of coaching the Republic.

He is reported to be one of three names on the Irish shortlist and McCarthy's continuing relish for the international stage was made clear when he recently commented on the new England manager.

"There will be a queue as long as your arm for that job and rightly so," he said. "There is pressure but don't kid yourself - international management is great.

"Just because you're in the spotlight, it's high profile but take it from me it's not a bad job."

McCarthy's future was being thrashed out at a meeting with owner Steve Morgan and Chief Executive Jez Moxey.

Although he is still in the early days of his relationship with Morgan, McCarthy is known to value his working relationship with Moxey - who in turn remains a staunch advocat of the boss.

But this season have brought frustrations for McCarthy, who feels the progress of the previous campaign has been too quickly forgotten by some fans demanding greater success.