Jimmy Quinn pulls out of the running for Northern Ireland post

Quinn's decision has followed quickly on the heels of Gerry Armstrong confirmation that he was also out of the reckoning.

It now leaves it a two-horse race to take over from Sammy McIlroy with Jimmy Nicholl still hot favourite to get the post ahead of Lawrie Sanchez.

Quinn was invited to be interviewed, but he declined and instead preferred to finish a job at Shrewsbury Town.

''It was a difficult decision to make,'' Quinn told BBC Sport. ''I am as well qualified as I can be for the job, having experience at Reading and Swindon. But I have a job to do at Shrewsbury.

''I am really flattered to be asked by my country, and it was very difficult to turn down. It's not that I wasn't interested. That's not the case.

''To take the interview would give the impression that I wanted away from Shrewsbury now.

''Maybe it is something for me in the future.''

Armstrong was turned down for an interview by the international committee of the IFA.

He said that he was told that this recent concentration on media work and resulting lack of coaching experience ruled him out.