FAI Chief Executive John Delaney met with headhunters Ray Houghton and Ruud Dokter in Dublin yesterday as the search for a successor to Giovanni Trapattoni kicks into high gear against the background of reports that the Association would ideally like to have the new man installed by November.

Arsene Wenger has signed a contract extension with Arsenal, tying him to the club until June 2014.

Under-pressure Japan coach Takeshi Okada took few risks in naming his country’s 23-man World Cup squad.