Lawrie Sanchez has taken N Ireland to 47th in the world rankings

Sanchez said in December that he was likely to step down from the role after the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign and make a return to club management.

Sanchez has been a success since taking over in 2004 and IFA president Jim Boyce is eager to retain his services.

"Everyone is aware that I hope Lawrie Sanchez continues in the job, which he has been doing brilliantly," he said.

Boyce and IFA chief executive Howard Wells talked with Sanchez on Monday and an April meeting was agreed.

Northern Ireland beat Liechtenstein 4-1 on Saturday and a victory over Sweden at Windsor Park on Wednesday night would take Sanchez's team top of their qualifying group.

"Until his future has been agreed there will be no comment from me or the IFA and I want to make that abundantly clear," Boyce told the News Letter.

"The most important thing for us is to get a good result against Sweden."

Sanchez's impact can be illustrated in Northern Ireland's jump from 118th in the FIFA rankings to 47th.

The former Wycombe Wanderers boss has an agreement with the IFA that he can take a club job which would allow him to continue with Northern Ireland.