Pat Whelan stunned Irish rugby yesterday when he announced his resignation as national team manager after three seasons in the job. Whelan cited "personal and business reasons" for his decision.

The 48-year-old Limerick property developer had been expected to carry on managing the Irish team until the conclusion of the 1999 World Cup. Indeed, he strongly intimated as much to journalists in recent weeks.

Clearly though, he had been considering his position ever since the resignation of coach Brian Ashton after the opening Five Nations' defeat to Scotland in February.

Nonetheless, few expected Whelan to walk away from the job until results had improved, while the timing of his decision, 17 days after the concluding Five Nations' match against England, will strengthen the opinion that there must have been a catalyst.

However, Whelan himself was unavailable for comment yesterday and both Warren Gatland and IRFU officials have made it abundantly clear that there were no differences of opinion between Whelan and anybody else in the build-up to his departure. Hence, his explanation, via a statement from the Union's public relations company Slattery PR, has to be taken at face value.

In announcing his decision, Whelan is quoted as saying: "I have resigned for personal and business reasons. It is a decision I have arrived at with mixed emotions and one which was not reached easily. However, looking to the long term future and continued development of the team, I believe it is appropriate that I should stand down at this stage, given that I am no longer prepared to take the time away from my family and business commitments."

"I have been considering my position as Irish team manager for some time but had concluded that it was important that I remain on until the completion of the Five Nations' Championship. It has now concluded on an optimistic note, from which I genuinely believe a successful future will ensue, given the quality of people in the management team and the support structures which have been put in place by the IRFU."

"In my two-and-a-half years as honorary manager I have received unstinting support from the players, the clubs, the provinces and in particular from the IRFU. It has been a tremendously challenging and fulfilling period in my rugby career, sometimes tough but always enjoyable."

"I thank every one with whom I have worked and extend to my successor and the Irish team management every best wish."

Niall Brophy, president of the IRFU, commented: "It is with regret that the Union accepts the resignation of Pat Whelan. Pat was always totally committed. He has made a very significant contribution to Irish rugby over the past couple of years in a time of rapid change as we adapted to professionalism within the game. I readily acknowledge and thank him for his selfless commitment and contribution to Irish rugby in his capacity as Irish team Manager."

The statement added: "A decision as to a successor will be made at a later date."

The likely candidate to succeed Whelan, certainly in the short-term, is the third member of the selection panel, Donal Lenihan. A possible candidate for the remaining selectorial place is Philip Danaher, who was employed as backs' coach with Gatland during the latter's stint as coach for the last three games of the championship. However, for the moment, the squad of 36 or so for the seven-match summer tour to South Africa will probably be finalised by just Gatland and Lenihan next week.

Technically, as things stand, the Irish team has neither a manager or a coach, for the Union and Gatland have yet to sign the agreed contract which will see the New Zealander coach the team until the 2,000 Six Nations' Championship - as it will then be.

Negotiations with Gatland have been completed, and the new agreement was expected to include a more diminished role for the manager. However, if anything, this would probably have suited Whelan, who had privately expressed a desire for a more diminished role and seemed to enjoy a much better working relationship with Gatland than he had done with Ashton.

"To be honest, I thought we got on really well," said Gatland, who, in common with IRFU officials and other Whelan confidantes, only knew of the latter's decision late on Tuesday. "There was a good relationship between us, founded on trust, and if he didn't think that Irish rugby was in for a good future I don't think he would have resigned."

The very wording of Whelan's title, `honorary manager', shows how outdated the role has become. Likewise, so do Whelan's reasons for resigning, as it is clearly well nigh impossible to combine a demanding profession with the task of managing the Irish team.

Ostensibly, the job of team manager should be an administrative and titular one, free of selectorial responsibilities, but also either a full-time position or for some-one who has retired - in line with other national team managers.