SOCCER:The guessing game gathers pace. Even Jack Charlton was included in the bookies' list of possible candidates to succeed Steve Staunton as Republic of Ireland manager, albeit with odds of 500 to 1. Graeme Souness, a marginally more realistic successor, meanwhile, confirmed his interest in the post yesterday.

Souness, whose managerial CV features stints in five countries - Scotland (Glasgow Rangers), England (Liverpool, Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United), Turkey (Galatasaray), Italy (Torino) and Portugal (Benfica) - recently ruled himself out for the position at Bolton Wanderers. Now involved in media work, including with RTÉ, he was sacked from his last post, at Newcastle, in February last year.

"If I was offered the Ireland job, I would be very interested," he said. "Why wouldn't any manager be keen on leading such a great country's football team, working with a squad that I believe has a lot of potential?"

While admitting qualification for the next World Cup would be "tough", Souness insisted the core of the Irish squad was strong enough for the makings of a team capable of challenging for a place in the 2010 finals. He did, however, say, "As a former Rangers manager I would be a bit concerned at how some people might perceive me in Ireland."

Bobby Robson spoke of his sympathy for Staunton in his Mail on Sunday column, while confirming he would step down from his role as Republic of Ireland football consultant after the final Euro 2008 qualifying game in Wales next month.

He said, "I came in with Stan and it wouldn't be right to work for another full-time manager . . . I have decided to honour my contract with the FAI and work at the match in Cardiff."

Meanwhile, FAI chief executive John Delaney confirmed the FAI's 10-man board of management would meet on Thursday to discuss candidates for the role of adviser on who should succeed Staunton.

"We'll have a look at what the board members come up with in terms of names . . . they will be either ex-players or ex-managers who have played at international level, or people who have made appointments of this nature before," he said, adding the FAI would look to appoint "two or three" advisers.

Delaney also revealed the FAI were in negotiations to arrange friendlies with Brazil and Argentina at Croke Park next year.