The Board of Management of the FAI have appointed Don Givens and Don Howe to recruit the next manager of the Republic of Ireland senior team.
Four members of the Board met with Givens and Howe today in England where they outlined the conditions and requirements for the job and answered queries from the duo.
Speaking afterwards, the President of the Football Association of Ireland, David Blood, said the meeting had been extremely positive.
‘We are delighted that we have found two extremely credible football men known throughout the game for their honesty and integrity. They will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to ensure that we get the best person for the job,’ he said.
FAI Chief Executive John Delaney, who also attended the meeting, said: ‘Over the past month we laid the groundwork for the next stage in the process. We have finalised the terms of reference, the criteria and financial package. The process has now been handed over the panel.’
The Board have given the panel the option of adding to their number if they deem it necessary. All relevant information in relation to the process to date has been passed on to the panel for their consideration.
The panel will now take over the recruitment process and their first task will be to draw up a list of the candidates they wish to interview. When they have completed their work they will return to the Board with a recommendation.
Don Givens is the current caretaker manager of the senior international team and manager of Ireland’s U21 side. He is a former record international scorer having netted 19 goals in 56 appearances between 1969 and 1982.
Don Howe, 72, is a former England international who won 23 caps and played in the 1958 World Cup. He played for West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal before injury cut short his playing career.
He began his coaching career with Arsenal reserves and was first team coach when the Gunners won the English League and FA Cup double in 1971. After that his coaching and management career took him to West Brom, Galatasaray, Leeds United, Wimbledon, Queen’s Park Rangers, Coventry and England before he returned to Arsenal as youth team coach.
