FAI will not intervene in dispute, says Menton

ROY KEANE'S future with the Irish soccer squad lies firmly between himself and Mick McCarthy after Football Association of Ireland (FAI) management ruled out intervening in the dispute between the two in their upcoming inquiry into the association's World Cup preparations.

The Irish Sports Council is expected this week to meet a request by the FAI to appoint an independent chairperson to head the inquiry and an international sports management consultancy has been retained to add their expertise to the process.

But while it will examine the handling of events in Saipan - both at the Pacific island training base and in Ireland - the review will not delve into the core issue of the row between the former captain and the team manager.