FAI reject talk of new boss job offer

FAI CHIEFS last night insisted they have not offered the Republic of Ireland management job to any candidate as the hunt for a successor to Steve Staunton intensifies.

Football bosses said they were forced to issue a statement on their website last night “to clarify several points that have arisen from media coverage of the process to select a new manager for the Ireland senior international team.”

And the power-brokers stressed that they are ‘happy with the progress being made by the selection panel.’

The statement added that “no announcement of an appointment will be made until the selection panel have made a recommendation to the FAI Board of Management; the board have ratified that recommendation and the nominee has accepted the position and because of the need to maintain confidentiality the FAI and the selection panel do not comment publicly or privately on the candidates.

The first announcement of the appointment will be made on the FAI website (www.fai.ie).