Finally, on the pitch, Oxtoby's reign shall be remembered for moments of brilliance fairly than constant success and she or he couldn't information NI to the subsequent version of the Euros.
That may be a microcosm of performances too, the place Northern Eire typically performed nicely in patches however struggled to string a 90-minute displaying collectively.
The obvious spotlight was Lauren Wade's gorgeous late winner in opposition to Croatia within the first spherical of Euro 2025 play-offs in October 2024.
Magill stepped up and delivered two memorable late targets to grab a late win in opposition to Bosnia-Herzegovina in February, however there's additionally the argument the group shouldn't have been in that place to begin with after they conceded twice in 4 minutes after dominating the sport.
The four-goal win in Albania was spectacular, and victories in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro had been additionally robust outings.
Of the 11 defeats suffered underneath Oxtoby, all however one had been in opposition to sides who've featured on the final World Cup or Euros.
The heavy defeats by Norway, Poland, Portugal, Iceland and the Republic of Eire had been a stark actuality of NI's place in Europe's pecking order.
And there lies Northern Eire's greatest concern.
Regardless of who Northern Eire's subsequent supervisor is, the most important problem is how one can make the subsequent step and contend to succeed in a second main event.
Because the Nations League format was launched, in Oxtoby's first marketing campaign in cost in 2023, NI have been in League B for each iteration of the competitors.
In brief, they're too good for League C however any time they've confronted League A opposition they've come up nicely quick.
There are not any simple solutions as to how NI can bridge the hole to the highest sides, particularly with the younger make-up of the squad, who've potential however are removed from the completed product.
