Manager to be confirmed on Wednesday

Updated: Tuesday, 12 Feb 2008 10:06

John Delaney says the identity of the next Irish manager will be known on Wednesday

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney has refused to confirm that Italian Giovanni Trapattoni will be the next Republic of Ireland manager but has admitted that the identity of Steve Staunton's successor will be revealed on Wednesday.

Speaking to RTÉ Group Soccer Correspondent Tony O'Donoghue, Delaney confirmed that the three-man selection committee of Don Givens, Don Howe and Ray Houghton had finalised their preferred candidate and will make their recommendation to the FAI at a specially convened board meeting in Abbotstown on Wednesday at 4.30pm.

The Waterford man also revealed he was excited about the choice and believed the Irish public would be too.

He said: 'I was thrilled last night. I got a phone call from Don Givens and I spoke to him this morning and he asked that I call a board meeting for Wednesday at 4.30pm. There is a preferred candidate to be the next Irish manager, that will be brought to the board and we will hold a press conference after the board meeting to tell the public who the next Irish manager is going to be.'

When O'Donoghue suggested that Trapattoni was the name on everybody's lips, Delaney struggled to keep a straight face and his obvious excitement at the potential appointment was plain to see.

He continued: 'The panel have had a couple of interviews over the last couple of days. We're not going to comment who was where and when, but what I am excited about is that we do have the preferred candidate and the Irish public will know the next Irish manager on Wednesday night.'

Delaney refused to be drawn on the identity of the candidate, admitting: 'I can't comment on who the manager is going to be and I think you understand that it's got to go to the board first. We've had a huge amount of interest in the job, I think that's fair to say, there's been an unprecedented amount of interest in who wants to manage Ireland this time.

'I put that down to two facts: 1) the number of young players that have come through over the last couple of years; there's a real knowledge internationally of the players that we have and 2) the financial package. The fact that we are prepared to pay more than we have ever paid to get a top-class manager in. Those two factors have created a buzz around the appointment of the next Irish manager and from a personal point of view I'm just thrilled that we'll have somebody to announce to the Irish public.'

Delaney also revealed that an international friendly in March was off the cards and that May would be the first outing for the new manager.

When asked if he was brushing up on his Italian, the Waterford man said he'd be 'brushing up on a lot of things, but that the Irish public would be excited about the appointment come Wednesday night.'

A report in today's Irish Examiner revealed that Trapattoni had been appointed Irish manager in a deal reputed to be worth €1.4million per year.