Scarcely six weeks after the project he staked his reputation on collapsed, and those who had battled with him over its completion insisted he must go, Bernard O'Byrne conceded defeat again yesterday when he agreed to start negotiating the conditions on which he would end his term as chief executive of the FAI.

After another day of prolonged meetings involving football's leading officials and administrators from around the country, the FAI issued a statement last night confirming the Dubliner's fate had been sealed and he would depart by the first day of next month.

O'Byrne had, it stated, on the basis of "the immense pressure on himself and his family . . . asked the association to discuss a confidential voluntary retirement package. "These talks," it added, "would take place over the coming days."

The feeling seems to be that with talks due to start tomorrow morning, a deal could be reached by the end of the week although it is not clear whether the international game against Andorra will necessitate the postponement of a final agreement.

Opponents of O'Byrne had expressed confidence prior to yesterday's meeting of the association's board of management - effectively its board of directors - that a report of a four-man subcommittee into alleged irregularities involving the official's handling of his company credit card and questions over the way he handled some of his expenses claims would make his departure inevitable.

As it turned out the suggestion that O'Byrne should step down was first put to him by the association's president, his long-time ally Pat Quigley and National League chairman Michael Hyland, who met with O'Byrne in the city centre after a meeting of the officer board at a hotel near Dublin airport.

At that stage he refused and it was late in the afternoon before the directors got around to considering his position. Before any substantial discussion about the issue took place, however, the meeting was adjourned at O'Byrne's request and a further session of talks took place, with Quigley and Hyland apparently talking directly to the chief executive, while Brendan Menton and Des Casey received updates in another room on how things were proceeding.

By then both sides had taken legal advice and while the two opinions differed dramatically, O'Byrne is reported to have made the request to enter talks over a severance package.

When the meeting of the board resumed at just after six o'clock, news of what had transpired was relayed to the directors. It was agreed that the content of the report into O'Byrne's behaviour would remain confidential until after any talks had been concluded and the officers sought permission to negotiate the package. A motion granting them the power to do so was proposed and seconded by John Byrne and John Delaney.

Menton, Casey, Hyland and Quigley then held a press conference to announce those talks will start tomorrow and all made it clear that they do not expect the process to be long or drawn out.

"The work of the association will continue," said Quigley, "and Bernard will continue to work on its behalf for the next few days but there will only be a few days involved. Everything will be concluded by May 1st.

"It has been a very difficult time for the association," said Menton, "but the events of the day overtook the content of the report which will remain private. The officers will discuss the terms of a settlement over the next few days and we are looking to conclude a legally binding agreement. That will be an end to the matter."

The main issue at stake in the discussions will be the value of the package O'Byrne takes away with him. In recent days supporters had floated the figure of £200,000.

Quigley subsequently paid tribute to the contribution made by his friend during his time at Merrion Square, remarking O'Byrne had "done a lot of development word and taken the association a long way."

Less upset, though clearly anxious not to appear triumphant, Delaney said he felt "vindicated by all that happened. I felt that Bernard wasn't the person to unite the association in the aftermath of the Eircom Park affair and I was consistent in saying that he should go."

O'Byrne was not available for comment last night.