Stoke weren't the only team to contact Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill, FAI chief John Delaney has revealed.

The former Aston Villa and Celtic manager spoke with the Potters about the managerial vacancy left by Mark Hughes, who was sacked after an FA Cup loss to Coventry. He eventually turned down their offer and the job was handed to O'Neill's former Celtic player, Paul Lambert.

With numerous managers sacked in the Premier League this season, Delaney has seemingly let slip that other clubs contacted O'Neill.

"It's not the first approach that has been made to Martin since he became Republic of Ireland manager. He will explain every piece of that next Wednesday at the Nations League draw.

"He rang me to tell me he was meeting Stoke, but there was nothing in the phone call that indicated he was going to go to Stoke.

"I would have felt from that call he was going to stay managing the Republic of Ireland.

"After he met Stoke, he rang to say he had respectfully declined the Stoke offer and he would be staying with the Republic of Ireland."