Pressure mounts on Staunton

David O'Leary is sure to figure among the bookmakers' favourites for the job if Steve Staunton's 21-month reign as manager of the Republic of Ireland is ended this week - and, possibly, later today.

Former Arsenal and Ireland centre back O'Leary, 49, would be a popular choice among the fans even though he has not held a high-profile job in football since being dismissed as manager of Aston Villa at the the end of the 2005-6 season after three years in charge following a move from Leeds United.

He won 68 caps for the Republic and scored the vital penalty which put them through to the quarter finals of the Italia 90 World Cup.

The Football Association of Ireland's management board, headed by chief executive John Delaney, are understood to be seeking a secret venue to hold an emergency meeting to decide on Staunton's future.

Irish fans are up in arms over the perceived major decline of the team which qualified for two World Cup finals under former boss Jack Charlton and another with Charlton's successor Mick McCarthy.

Reaction to Staunton's troubled tenure have been long and loud during a calamitous Euro 2008 qualifying programme which reached a new low with a desperate 1-1 draw against Cyprus at Croke Park last week, with all hopes of a place in next summer's finals totally out of the question despite one more qualifier to go against Wales in Cardiff next month.

For the first time, a contracted Irish manager is on the brink of being forcefully removed from his post by the board of management who initially rubber-stamped his appointment.

Ex-Liverpool, Aston Villa and Coventry defender Staunton, the Republic's most capped player with 102 caps, and known throughout the game as 'Stan', has more than two more years left on his contract and has vowed to battle on.

The dismissals of previous team-bosses Eoin Hand, Charlton, McCarthy and Brian Kerr were all seen as being handled badly by the FAI but Staunton's execution could prove to be the messiest of the lot.

Irish football experts know he will not go cheaply but also know that whether the FAI give him one year's salary, or two, as compensation it is largely irrelevant to a man who is determined to see the job through and produce a new crop of exciting youngsters for the team.

What may rankle with Staunton is the notion that he alone should carry the rap. As recently as last month, he was again told his position was safe for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, irrespective of the results against Germany (0-0) and Cyprus.

Usually decisive and forceful, chief executive Delaney has been accused in the media of inaction and been told he should have shown Staunton the door last week.

However, some pundits believe Delaney may still follow the lead of Republic captain, Tottenham's Robbie Keane and other leading players in supporting Staunton who could yet receive a vote of confidence.

Meanwhile, though, the FAI have won the Darron Gibson battle with Northern Ireland - but lost the war over future qualification regarding the eligibility of players.

FIFA have told the FAI they can keep the services of the Northern Ireland-born midfielder, currently on loan from Manchester United at Wolves but suffering with a broken toe.

And the world governing body will not impose any sanction over Gibson's involvement for the Republic of Ireland in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

But FIFA have also ruled that the FAI may no longer quote the Good Friday Agreement as an excuse for drafting up players born on the island of Ireland.

From now on, FIFA statutes count, which means the FAI can now only call on players born in the Republic, or whose parents, or grand-parents, are born in the Republic.