The ascent of Stan

NOW it can be revealed: the Irish manager was on the point of resigning in the face of the hostile media reaction to a disastrous result for the boys in green earlier in their Euro 2008 campaign.

“The level and ferocity of the criticism from certain sections of media astonished me,” said the gaffer, who held 11th hour talks with desperate Irish football officials before finally deciding to stick it out.

And, hey, just look at Lawrie Sanchez now.