Ireland lack strength - Whelan

Former Republic of Ireland star Ronnie Whelan fears for the team's future and that any new manager will have to start a painstaking trawl to strengthen a thinning squad.

Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney insists the team left behind by Brian Kerr is a talented one, despite Roy Keane, Kenny Cunningham and Stephen Carr all announcing their retirement from international football in the past week.