Mcllroy to watch Spain clash from the stand

Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy will have to watch the Euro 2004 qualifier against Spain on Saturday from the stand.

McIlroy and his assistant Jimmy Harvey are serving a one-match touchline and dressing room ban after an incident during the match against Malta.

Harvey, who is the manager of Morecambe, has decided not to travel as his club play Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday.

He will link up with the squad in Belfast on Sunday ahead of the qualifier against Ukraine a week on Wednesday.

It means coach Alan McDonald will have a key role to play in the qualifier in Albacete on Saturday.

The former QPR defender will give the team talk as McIlroy is barred from the dressing room, and McIlroy then intends to send his instructions by mobile phone to McDonald in the dugout.

Irish FA spokesman John Quinn confirmed: "Sammy will not be allowed in the dressing rooms or on the touchline."