Stan’s reign at an end

STEVE STAUNTON’S reign as Republic of Ireland manager came to an end following a meeting with FAI chiefs in Dublin early this morning.

An era which had begun in the opulent surroundings of the Mansion House came to a head in a Dublin hotel after an emergency meeting of the FAI Board of Management was convened to discuss the manager’s position less than two years into his management term’s scheduled four-year run.

Staunton was invited by the FAI to address the Board of Management last night and offer his own assessment of his managerial reign. It is believed that Staunton later talked by telephone with Bobby Robson.