SOCCER/International news:Clearly stung by the criticism levelled at them in recent months over the appointment of Steve Staunton, the FAI's leadership will begin the process over the next week or so of looking for the "senior football figures" who will choose his successor and, ultimately, take the rap next time around.

Amongst the more remarkable things to come out of yesterday's early morning FAI press conference, however, was the suggestion by John Delaney that the people recruited to identify Staunton's replacement might themselves never be identified.

"I'll accept the majority of the responsibility in terms of this appointment," said the FAI's chief executive after Monday evening/night's marathon series of meetings. "It was made in good faith, no question about that. But it hasn't worked out for whatever reasons and I think it's best to leave it now the next time to others who have the professional background to go and make this kind of appointment. The board of the FAI will accept that."

Asked whether the names of the people on the panel of experts would be made public, Delaney said: "Yes . . . unless they want to remain confidential."

The decision by the board to farm out responsibility for the appointment of the next manager by committing themselves to endorsing whoever is recommended to them "regardless of any reservations" they might have is surprising enough, but the suggestion that nobody might ever know the names of the people who effectively make the appointment is astonishing.

Members of the board will take a week to 10 days before meeting to discuss how to advance the process of appointing a successor.

They will have to decide who to approach - former Arsenal director David Dein and Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill were among those linked with the role yesterday - and what budget to allocate to those who take on the job. Staunton and his advisor, Bobby Robson, cost around €700,000 per annum and that figure is likely to be substantially increased.

The association have dramatically increased their turnover in recent years and while under a certain pressure to generate their share of the Lansdowne Road redevelopment costs, Delaney confirmed there would be more money available. Pressed to say that the organisation's upper limit might be, he replied, "I won't go into that because that will be our salary but we are in a better position than we were a couple of years ago."

Even before the association take the first real steps in the search for their new man, however, expressions of interest were coming in. It is understood David O'Leary would accept the post if offered it but others have more publicly declared their interest.

"One of the regrets I've always had is that I would have always fancied managing a national team," said Ron Atkinson on Newstalk last night. "I know I could do a job like that. I have always believed that international football is about selection, organisation and motivation. You are not going to make them better players, the prime factor is to get your selection and organisation right and then play to the max."

Omar (formerly Philippe) Troussier also threw his hat into the ring again yesterday, telling the BBC in Morocco: "I am open to suggestions, I'm available. I have a lot of managerial experience behind me, more than 200 matches at the highest level and managed at two World Cups." The Frenchman has been out of the game for a couple of years now but insisted: "Two years in a career is nothing."

Steve Coppell also expressed enthusiasm for the idea of managing an international team but seemed less sure when the prospect of taking on the Ireland job just now was actually put to him.

Delaney, meanwhile, confirmed that Don Givens will again take temporary charge of the senior team. Under-21 coach Paul Clement is likely to fill in for Givens for that team's European Championship qualifier in Montenegro.

Pat Devlin, he also said, would stay on the for the B international against Scotland next month. Though technically not part of Staunton's backroom staff, the former Bray Wanderers boss was closely associated with the manager and had been expected to depart along with Kevin MacDonald and Alan Kelly.

Lee Carsley, the Everton midfielder, said he was "not fussy about who comes in" but was sorry to see Staunton go. "It is never nice to see anyone lose their job. The players have got to take some responsibility."