I would definitely not turn down Manchester in the hope of Dublin coming through.
If you get an offer from Manchester, you could ask them to wait for a few days, contact Dublin and put a rocket up their backsides - tell them honestly that while you'd much prefer to work for them, you can't chuck over another good offer while they faff about. Co-operate, but give them a deadline and don't let them mess you about.
I had a bit of a similar dilemma reasonably recently. In the end the second company were clearly not ever going to come through - it turned out that while the guy had interviewed me with great enthusiasm, he didn't actually have authority to hire - so I was very happy to take the job that came through with an actual offer. And it turned out to be a really nice contract.
It's not ideal to accept the Manchester job but continue to pursue Dublin and take it if it comes through, but it is an option. You'd have to weigh up how much it mattered to you, over professional good behaviour.
no subject
If you get an offer from Manchester, you could ask them to wait for a few days, contact Dublin and put a rocket up their backsides - tell them honestly that while you'd much prefer to work for them, you can't chuck over another good offer while they faff about. Co-operate, but give them a deadline and don't let them mess you about.
I had a bit of a similar dilemma reasonably recently. In the end the second company were clearly not ever going to come through - it turned out that while the guy had interviewed me with great enthusiasm, he didn't actually have authority to hire - so I was very happy to take the job that came through with an actual offer. And it turned out to be a really nice contract.
It's not ideal to accept the Manchester job but continue to pursue Dublin and take it if it comes through, but it is an option. You'd have to weigh up how much it mattered to you, over professional good behaviour.