BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Republic of Ireland

Mick McCarthy has revealed he will step down as Republic of Ireland manager in 2004.

The former Millwall boss said the lure of club management would prove too strong to get him to extend his current contract with the national side.

McCarthy is currently six years into his role with the Irish Football Association.

But he insisted he was already considering a move elsewhere.

He told the Guardian newspaper: "I'd like to qualify for the European Championship and then I will have done eight years in the job and I think that's more than enough.

I thought, with the team we've got and the way we've played, why should I walk away?

Mick McCarthy

"I will go away from it, whatever happens. Even if we qualify I will go and look for a job."

Asked if he wanted to move to the Premiership, he said simply: "Yes, I'd like to."

McCarthy has previously been tipped for the top- flight - as the one time favourite for the vacant manager's post at Sunderland which eventually went to Howard Wilkinson.

During his time at the helm of the national side, the former Irish international's time has been blighted by controversy.

His very public bust-up with Roy Keane at this year's World Cup still hangs over him.

McCarthy joy at Keane absence

But there are other reasons for his decision to head back to club management.

He explained: "I miss that day-to-day stuff. I've got more used to doing this job and the time it affords you but I would still like to manage in the Premiership.

Howard Wilkinson, who was named Sunderland manager, despite Mick McCarthy's tag as the early favourite for the job
Wilkinson was the surprise Sunderland choice

"I'll manage a football club but the kick is the team. That's what drives us all on, I imagine. It certainly drives me.

"You can have more of an influence on the players, certainly [at a club]."

The 43-year-old has revealed he considered packing in his current job following the Keane fiasco but insisted it would have been the easy choice.

Asked if he thought about it during and after the World Cup, he said: "Not while we were playing but afterwards, I considered it.

"What do you do? Just say 'that's me finished, I'm walking away and I'll wait until somebody gets the sack and I get offered a job in the Premiership? That's effectively what I would have been doing.

"I think I might have been walking away to suit other people, not to suit me. I love doing this job and to qualify for Portugal in 2004 was my ambition.

"I considered qualifying for the European Championship and I thought, with the team we've got and the way we've played, why should I walk away?"