John Delaney tonight dismissed suggestions that Steve Staunton's position as Ireland manager is up for discussion following the team's below-par performance in San Marino last night.  He also rejected claims his own job would be untenable if Staunton was to be sacked.

Last night's embarrassing 2-1 win was "a dreadful performance" but claims Staunton could not be sacked as it would cost the FAI chief executive his own job "could not be further from the truth", Delaney said.
 
"I understand that when we play badly the fans get frustrated with the performance but thankfully we got a late goal and won the match," Delaney said. "We got out of jail last night . . . the only positive I can  take is that we've got three points and moved up to third in the table."
 
Speaking on Today FM, Delaney was attempting to put a brave face on the wave of criticism directed at both himself and Staunton following last night's lack-lustre performance - on a par with the 5-2 defeat in Cyprus last October.
 
Irish fans at the Serravalle Stadium booed the manager and players off the pitch and also called for Delaney to resign. But this evening Delaney refused to dwell on his or Staunton's position.
 
"I'm not going to answer [those questions] because that's not my decision," he told presenter Matt Cooper. "Any decision in terms of any contracts within the FAI will be discussed internally . . . I don't comment on any individual contracts, be it my own or any of our international managers."
 
Delaney again stood by Staunton's appointment despite his promise to lure a world-class manager following Brian Kerr's departure.
 
"That's what we decided, the decision the sub-committee went with.  We felt that was the right mix and blend in terms of bringing this team forward," he said.
 
"The system of Bobby and Stephen (as international consultant and manager respectively) is what Stephen and Bobby wanted and that is what we felt at that time was the best thing for Irish football."

Speaking on RTE television soon afterwards, Delaney said it was best to let the Irish management team "get on with it".
 
Earlier, with Staunton keeping his head well below the parapet, Robson fielded difficult questions about last night's performances for over an hour on national radio.

The 73-year-old - having recently recovered from a brain tumour - was a guest on the RTE Livelineprogramme, facing questions from presenter Joe Duffy and members of the public.
 
While accountable for his on-field actions as advisor to Staunton, the former England manager was also left fielding many questions of an administrative nature more suited to his employers.
 
He spent an excessive amount of time during the 75 minute programme - and again later on Today FM - attempting to discuss Staunton's suitability for the job - clearly not his brief but rather that of Delaney.
 
Many callers to the Liveline  programme were critical of the FAI and expressed sympathy for Robson who continued to juggle some questions clearly not in his remit.
 
" Liveline  sought a representative from the association", said an FAI spokesman, adding that "no specific person" was requested by the national broadcaster.
 
"Bobby expressed a wish to get his side of things across as he had no opportunity to give media interviews (after the match) last night," the spokesman said.  "Today, he wanted to talk.  We talked it over with Bobby, explained to him the show format and he was still eager to go on."
 
Robson conceded Stephen Ireland's injury-time winner had "avoided a calamity" for the team.
 
"It was a result but a disappointing result," he said. "Every player was aware of the importance of the game and how necessary it was to win. We were quite satisfied, Stan and I, after the game that every player gave their all in the game.
 
"On paper it looked an easy match, on the field it wasn't so easy. We dominated completely, had total supremacy. We won, not convincingly, but we won. If we do well in our next two games we still have a chance of qualifying for the finals."