Sanchez has guided NI to top of their Euro 2008 qualifying group

"I have a short-term contract at Fulham and the season ends on 13 May so I have plenty of time to focus on the next international game in August," he said.

"The Northern Ireland players know what I expect of them when they turn up for games and if asked to stay on at Fulham I know it is possible to do both jobs.

"The people at the IFA have been first class and are aware of my ambitions."

Interview: Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez

Sanchez said he spoke to both IFA president Jim Boyce and chief executive Howard Wells prior to accepting the Fulham role and was informed the organisation would not stand in his way.

"They made it clear that they would not stand in my way if a big job came along, provided that I fulfilled my contract which runs until the end of the Euro 2008 qualifying series in November.

"I want to fulfil that contract as we have the chance to qualify for a major finals and I want to be part of that, starting with the game against Liechtenstein in August.

"The Northern Ireland fans have been fantastic to me and I am mindful that Northern Ireland has helped me to prove myself on the world stage.

"I believe I can become a better manager for the experience of managing at this level and bring that experience to the Northern Ireland job."

Sanchez added that he had "always felt like a Premiership manager" and is happy to be judged on the results of Fulham's remaining five Premiership matches.

"If I win all five games, there is a good chance I will be asked to stay and if I lose all five there is a good chance I will not but the reality is probably somewhere in between so we will have to see what happens.

"My aim is to pick up points as quickly as possible to get us out of the relegation danger area so we are not playing Middlesbrough in our final game needing something from it."