Worthington wants to stay on

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington, whose contract expires in six weeks, has given a clear indication he wants to extend his stay as he is planning ahead.

Worthington, who is "positive" about the province's future, is due to hold talks with the Irish Football Association president Raymond Kennedy and chief executive Patrick Nelsen. Those discussions will be held once Saturday's friendly against World Cup finalists Serbia at Windsor Park is out of the way.

Worthington said: "I thought it was only right and proper from the Association's point of view, the players' point of view and my own that we fully focussed on the football side of things."

He added: "While those games (World Cup qualifiers) are out of the way the president and other members have had a busy schedule. There is plenty of time to sit down in the coming weeks to discuss the situation and hopefully sort something out."

Northern Ireland finished fourth in their group and Worthington insists they are going in the right direction.

"There are so many positives and we have to look to those positives and keep moving forward. That is where the association is at," he said.

"I want to move things forward. They want to move things forward. We are in good shape and we are working for each other. People at the top end have done a terrific job."