Delaney: We’ll take our time and pick the right man

FAI chief executive John Delaney has claimed the protracted process now inevitable in the search for Ireland’s next manager always formed part of the association’s original plans.

All of the noises emitting from Abbotstown in the days immediately before and after Giovanni Trapattoni’s dismissal a fortnight ago pointed to a search and rescue mission for the unemployed Martin O’Neill.

Instead, for one reason or another, the trail to the Derryman has gone cold – leading the FAI board on Monday night to appoint Noel King as interim manager, along with Ray Houghton and Ruud Dokter being tasked with “analysing the market” for a new boss.