FAI & Staunton part company
Wednesday, 24 October 2007 17:10
The FAI and the senior international team manager Steve Staunton have agreed by mutual consent to terminate his contract following a meeting in Dublin early this morning.
Under-21 manager Don Givens will take charge of the Irish team for their final Euro qualifier against Wales next month.
The FAI will appoint an outside advisor to assist in the search for a new manager.
Staunton, the former Ireland, Liverpool and Aston Villa defender, had come under renewed pressure after last week's 1-1 draw with Cyprus ended Ireland's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008.
Staunton's assistants Kevin McDonald and Alan Kelly have also parted company with the association. International Consultant Bobby Robson and B team manager Pat Devlin have been retained.
FAI president David Blood thanked Staunton and his management team for their dedication and commitment to the senior international team since their appointment in January 2006.
'They have brought through a lot of young players and leave behind a squad with strong development potential', said the President.
'As a member of the three-man committee, which made the recommendation to appoint Stephen and his team, I am disappointed that things have not worked out the way Stephen or my colleagues on the board had expected.
'The FAI board will now seek to appoint an outside advisor from within the football industry to assist them in the recruitment of a successor.
'The board will select people, with considerable football experience in the professional game, to appoint the new manager.'
Chief executive John Delaney said: 'The appointment was made in good faith, obviously Stephen was appointed with (the vastly experienced) Sir Bobby Robson, and in relation to that obviously for whatever reason it hasn't worked out.
'I think by moving to a process where we will appoint people who are vested in the game in a professional capacity to make the next appointment, it is recognition that that's the way forward for the association at this stage.'
Brian Kerr, former Ireland manager, has said recent events showed the FAI lacks credibility.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Kerr said the FAI had been very good at spinning their message whether in justifying the appointment or sacking of various managers.
Speaking on RTÉ's Prime Time last night, former FAI chief executive Bernard OByrne, said Steve Staunton should not have been appointed in the first place.
Staunton won a record 102 caps after making his international debut against Tunisia in 1988.
He played a key role played in the 1990 and 1994 World Cup finals in Italy USA.
In the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, he captained Ireland in the wake of the Saipan saga. He won his final cap in the penalty defeat to Spain in the last 16 game.
On January 13 2006, he replaced Kerr as manager of the Irish national team with former England coach Robson acting as his International Football Consultant.
- Morning Ireland: John Delaney, FAI Chief Executive, says Steve Staunton as manager of the Irish team has not worked out 'for whatever reasons'
- Morning Ireland: Eamon Dunphy, soccer analyst, says the notion of the FAI subcontracting out the job of appointing a new manager is preposterous
- Morning Ireland: Conor Hunt reports on the FAI's elaborate hide & seek and Tony O'Donoghue, Group Football Correspondent, explains what happened at last night's meeting
- FAI Press Conference: Watch some of the unedited press conference where FAI chief executive John Delaney confirmed the departure of Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton.
- FAI Press Conference: FAI President David Blood welcomes the press and reveals that Staunton's 21-month reign has come to an end.
- FAI Press Conference: John Delaney pays tribute to Steve Staunton, Bobby Robson and his coaching staff for their efforts.
- Staunton - The Great Debate: RTÉ Football Correspondent Tony O'Donoghue reports from the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry, where the FAI were rumoured to be discussing the future of Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton. Back in the studio, Bill O'Herlihy, John Giles, Liam Brady and Eamon Dunphy discuss the situation surrounding Staunton's position ahead of his confirmed departure last night.
- The Debate continues: The panel continue their debate on the confusion which surrounded Tuesday night's events in Dublin.
- Prime Time: Michael Heaney looks back over Steve Staunton's career as Republic of Ireland football manager
- Prime Time: Frank Stapleton, former Republic of Ireland player, Bernard O'Byrne, former Chief Executive of the FAI and Eoin Hand, former Republic of Ireland Manager, discuss the possible outcome of the FAI's meeting
