FAI spread net in hunt for new boss

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney met with headhunters Ray Houghton and Ruud Dokter in Dublin yesterday as the search for a successor to Giovanni Trapattoni kicks into high gear against the background of reports that the Association would ideally like to have the new man installed by November.

On top of assessing more than 20 expressions of interest in the vacancy already received by the FAI, Houghton and Dokter have been tasked with spreading the net in a bid to find the right man. While a definite cooling of interest on the part of Martin O’ Neill has seen Mick McCarthy overtake him, at least for now, as a front-runner, international interest in the job has already thrown up names like former Valencia and Inter coach Hector Cuper, former Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga and ex-Rangers boss Dick Advocaat.

However, the Irish Examiner understands that in perusing the international option, the FAI will only settle for an authentically blue-chip, marquee name appointment – which suggests that, for all their varying qualities, none of the above mentioned are likely to be left standing at the end of the race.