WHILE STILL hopeful of joining Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland backroom team, Liam Brady's involvement in the new set-up is not yet assured, with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger seeking clarification on the exact nature of the role he will be asked to play by the Italian. To that end Brady will meet with Trapattoni later this week to discuss the issue.

Wenger, who met Brady last week, is open to the idea of him working with Trapattoni, but wants to be certain that his involvement in the international set-up would not impact upon his position as Arsenal's head of youth development.

"While in principle he has allowed me the scope to work with Ireland and continue my job as head of youth development at Arsenal, both he and I need to know what will be expected of me," said Brady in his Sunday Tribune column.

"Wenger recognises that I have an opportunity to be involved at international level with a coach who has an outstanding record but, understandably, he was interested in exactly what role I might have in the Irish set-up. So, I'm meeting Trapattoni later this week to discuss in detail what he envisages me doing and, if we can come to an agreement, then I'll be speaking to Wenger again."

Trapattoni's Red Bull Salzburg, meanwhile, suffered their seventh defeat of the Austrian season on Saturday when they lost 3-1 away to title rivals FK Austria Magna, the Italian decrying the "stupid goals" his team had given away.

Salzburg, the Austrian champions, are now in third place, a point behind joint leaders LASK Linz and Magna.