The FAI today begin the process of head-hunting a new manager to take the Republic of Ireland forward.
After a near five-hour meeting of the FAI's 10-man Board of Management at a Dublin airport hotel last night, the decision was made not to offer Brian Kerr an extension to his contract, although with other items on the agenda, the debate on Kerr lasted just 60 minutes.
Kerr has accused the FAI of being 'short-sighted' and of not adhering to a longer-term plan, but has vowed to return to football after taking time out to consider the next stage of his career.
The axe has also fallen on Kerr's backroom team of assistant Chris Hughton, goalkeeping coach Packie Bonner and coach Noel O'Reilly, although the latter duo retain their roles in the Association of technical director and regional development officer respectively.
The last occasion the FAI found themselves in this position, three years ago following the resignation of Mick McCarthy, it took three months before appointing Kerr, who has ultimately paid the price for failing to get Ireland to next summer's World Cup finals.
Then, they utilised the expertise of Bryan Hamilton, with the former Northern Ireland manager drawing up a shortlist of seven upon which a three-man panel acted, conducting a number of interviews before Kerr was chosen.
That is not a route the FAI are to go down this time, with chief executive John Delaney confirming: "The approach will be a bit different.
"It will be more of a head-hunting role than the interview-style role, as was used the last time.
"But whatever resources that can help us do that, we will use them, although I don't envisage another Bryan Hamilton-type of appointment this time around."
The key factor for the FAI is that time is on their side, for with no friendly planned for next month's free international date, they have until February before a fixture comes around and with it the build-up towards the qualification programme for the 2008 European Championships.
Despite the recent protestations of Alex Ferguson and David O'Leary, they cannot categorically be ruled out at this stage given the situation with their respective clubs in Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill continues to tend to wife Geraldine, who is battling cancer, but he is a strong 2-1 favourite, while other contenders include Bobby Robson, Kenny Dalglish, and even Steve Bruce has been mentioned as he endures a rough time with Birmingham City.
As far as the FAI are concerned, there is no hurry, with Delaney adding: "Our next qualifying match in terms of the European Championship is probably next August or so, so we have time to consider the position.
"It's important we go out and make the correct appointment as opposed to going out and appointing somebody within a short period of time.
"This is about the long-term future, which makes this a significant appointment, so it is vital we go out and get the right person.
"I am not saying we are going to wait until next summer. That would be too long, but I am not going to say it will be within a week or two, or anything of that nature."
A three-man sub-committee comprising Delaney, president David Blood and secretary Michael Cody meet later today to start their search, although it is believed they already have a target in mind.
Not that Delaney would be drawn, insisting: "We can all start speculating on names, but I certainly won't.
"The day you start naming names and denying names is wrong because it becomes a process of elimination. That is not something we will do.
"We will keep it within the sub-committee and bring it to the board. That's the way we will conduct our business.
"But we want a manager to bring us success, and that's the bottom end of it."
Delaney felt Kerr, despite his unprecedented success at under-age level, had reached the end of the road, with last Wednesday's goalless draw against Switzerland ending all hope of getting to the World Cup.
"The sub-committee gave the board a detailed report, and they then debated the issue," said Delaney, who surprisingly revealed he had had no contact with Kerr since the end of the Swiss match.
"We looked at results and performances over the last couple of years. They were the key aspects, as was our decline in the rankings and slipping from two to four in the seeding category the main items.
"In the end there was no vote, just a consensus among the board in arriving at the decision we came to."
