Shay Given would certainly welcome a breakthrough in the manager search.

His frustration was evident yesterday when he said: "Like most fans I'm thinking 'why can't they just appoint someone?' They're going around the houses, roundabouts, it was October 23rd when Steve Staunton was sacked and now we're getting into February. Very frustrating. Why don't they just choose someone and go and sign him up? It's pretty simple. It's laughable it's taking so long.

"I don't know what goes on in those meetings. I know the FAI were slated for the way they picked Steve Staunton. In a sense they're washing their hands of it this time - 'we've got this panel' - I suppose they can't win in a way.

"But they could have it done and dusted by now. What actually is happening? Do they meet every month and say 'Leave it to next month?' What are they doing? . . . We have Brazil next week and this could be the start of a new era. But instead of people being excited about it we're still harping on about why there's no manager. We should be talking about the new manager and how exciting it all is. Ridiculous."

Given restated his preference for Terry Venables to be given the job. "I just think there are people who are capable of doing the job. In my opinion it would be Terry Venables. He sticks out like a sore thumb to me. Speaking to people like Alan Shearer, Nicky Butt, Michael Owen, they think he's a fantastic coach, his training is great and he is a great character. There wasn't a bad word about him. I'm amazed he hasn't been snapped up. I haven't worked with him but I think he'd be fantastic. But that's my opinion and I'm not on that panel thing."