Judging by the extensive reporting yesterday of the conversation that led to the dismissal as Irish manager of Giovanni Trapattoni, the Aer Rianta VIP area in Dublin Airport must have been a densely populated area on Wednesday morning.

In contrast to his swish unveiling at a packed RDS five years ago, Giovanni Trapattoni discovered his fate in a subdued airport lounge yesterday morning.

Mick McCarthy could be invited back for a second spell as Republic of Ireland manager after Giovanni Trapattoni’s reign ended with World Cup disappointment.

Former Republic of Ireland international Con Martin, best known for scoring in the famous victory over England in 1949, has died.

Many tributes have been paid to Celtic legend and former Ireland international Sean Fallon, who has died at the age of 90.

On a day when safety appeals were made to coincide with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, two more Irish people lost their lives in car crashes.

Damien Duff is to retire from international football.

There was no fanfare.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has taken a 30% pay cut to secure his position as Republic of Ireland manager for the next two years.

FAI chief executive John Delaney has defended his €400,000 salary, after he confirmed to the Association’s AGM in Ennis that he had taken voluntary reductions amounting to €50,000 in the last 12 months.

THE FAI plan to clear their debt on the Aviva Stadium by 2020.

BOHEMIANS v Drogheda United on Friday night, will raise the curtain on live television coverage of this season’s new look eircom League of Ireland.

Outgoing eircom League chairman Paddy McCaul was elected unopposed as chairman of the new FAI National League at the First Annual Convention of the organisation at the Park Plaza Hotel in Tyrrelstown, Dublin tonight.

All Dublin City results will be deleted from eircom League results tables after the premier division side ceased trading this morning.

CORK City and Derry City may have topped the league but they have been forced to play second fiddle to UCD in the 2005 eircom league Premier Division Fair Play table.

UCD have claimed first place in the 2005 eircom League Premier Division Fair Play table with a total of 1,072 points.

THE FAI yesterday welcomed a €15 million government investment in football in Ireland.

The eircom League today announced the eircom League Board of Control has appointed a sub-committee to investigate the bust-up between Shelbourne supremo Ollie Byrne and Shamrock Rovers boss Roddy Collins.

REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Brian Kerr spoke up for his eircom league counterparts yesterday, warning club chairmen to think twice before giving managers the chop.

THE eircom League is set to enjoy a bonanza of televised football and an increased prize fund of €400,000 as a result of a new multi-channel TV deal secured by the FAI.

At today's eircom League AGM, Paddy McCaul was elected chairman of the eircom League.

Paddy McCaul of Athlone Town was unanimously (17 votes) elected as interim chairman of the eircom League last night.

Athlone Town Football Club are in talks with current Longford Town Assistant Manager Aaron O’Callaghan on taking up the position of first team manager at the club.