Trap to sign contract this week

Giovanni Trapattoni is expected in Dublin on Wednesday to formally sign a new contract extension that will keep him in the job until the end of the 2014 World Cup campaign.
 

The Italian is quoted in several media outlets saying that he has 'agreed in principle' to the new deal, despite seeing his salary take a drop.
 

The 72-year old guided Ireland into what will be their first major finals in ten years when masterminding a Euro 2012 play-off win over Estonia recently. Next year's finals will be Ireland's first since the World Cup in 2002.
 

Trapattoni was keen to get moving on talks in the wake of that game and it is said that the parties have now come to an agreement which will see Trap's packet drop from €1.8m to €1.5m.
 

"I will be staying, it is agreed but it is not signed yet," Trapattoni said.

"We have agreed in principle, yes. There are no public details as of yet, but everything is going forward. I am happy with this."
 

The new deal will allow Trapattoni - who turns 73 on St Patrick's Day - to lead Ireland through the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. He will again be joined in the backroom team by Assistant Manager Marco Tardelli and Fitness Coach Fausto Rossi.
 

Telecommunications mogul Denis O'Brien will again continue to finance a large chunk of the salary of the Irish management team.
 

It is believed that Trapattoni will fly into Ireland on Wednesday to rubber stamp the deal and he will then travel, with FAI CEO John Delaney, to Kiev for Friday's Euro 2012 draw.