What they said

"The FAI do their business in mysterious ways. It's smoke-and-mirrors stuff . . . the majority of them you wouldn't trust to mind your corner shop for 10 minutes." - Brian Kerr, previewing the managerial selection process, puts his trust in his former employers.

"This is where the next crisis starts, this is the beginning of the next comedy show."

- Eamon Dunphy on hearing the FAI were looking for someone who would look for someone to succeed Steve Staunton.

Bill O'Herlihy:"They say there's no rush."

John Giles:"Who said that?"

Bill:"A number of footballers."

Giles:"Well, I think Tony Cascarino said that."

- Giles seemingly questioning the punditry and footballing credentials of Big Cas.

"I'm flattered by the interest and I'm certainly not ruling it out. I'm thinking about it and we'll see soon enough whether anything develops."

- Paul Jewell. Nothing developed. Except him taking over Derby. God love him.

"It's time to break with the past and move on from the time of 'the gaffer' to the Haan dynasty."

- Mark Mullan, the agent representing Dutch coach Arie Haan (no relation of Arry Redknapp), throws his client's hat in the ring.

"I love Irish people."

- Meanwhile, former Everton manager Howard Kendall details his credential for the job.

"One of the regrets I've always had is that I would have always fancied managing a national team."

- Big Ron Atkinson drops a Big hint hint.

"If I was offered the Ireland job, I would be very interested. Why wouldn't any manager be keen on leading such a great country's football team?"

- Graeme Souness. By now the ring was overflowing with hats.

"If it gets towards the end of January and we're sort of waiting and suddenly Jose Mourinho phones up then you've got to see him, don't you?"

- Don Givens, waiting by his phone for a call from The Special One.

"It's better than Big Brother, you just don't know what's going to happen next."

- Roy Keane, glued to his telly for the next episode of the FAI's search for a manager.

"Coppell is Gaelic for horse."

- The Reading manager Steve "Capall" stakes his claim for the Ireland job.

"You can't rush (the appointment) if you want to be sure of getting the right man, but I think it will be comfortably done by then (the Brazil match in February). I am sure it will be done before the end of the year."

- Don Givens speaking in November (that's November 2007, in case it's a blur).

Bill O'Herlihy:"What if it's Venables?"

Eamon Dunphy:"We're buggered."

"The current Merrion Square gang of three - John Delaney, Michael Cody and David Blood - stated their intention to pass the buck of managerial selection to a group of consultants. They may as well start looking in the yellow pages now that so many have turned them down."

- Brian Kerr, still unswerving in his support of the FAI.

"It's hard to know how long it will take."

- Don Givens, beginning to wonder if there'd be a manager in place in time for the 2010 World Cup.

"I admire the imagination of certain people. Two weeks ago I was being linked with Africa, last week it was England and now we are talking to Ireland - I'm curious to see where I will be next week."

- Giovanni Trapattoni has a giggle at rumours that he's about to be appointed Republic of Ireland manager. The very same rumour had the rest of us rolling in the aisles.

"I've heard he's the new favourite, but how many are we going to have? When I see that story (ie reports that Trapattoni was in talks with the FAI) I find it absolutely amazing because we haven't spoken to him and I find it rather hard to believe that the FAI are going behind our backs."

- Don Givens, rolling in the aisles himself.

"I don't know how good Trapattoni's English is and we only have two games after this one before the start of the World Cup campaign so we need somebody who can get his point across very quickly."

- Richard Dunne, sounding a bit like Tel O'Venables's campaign director.

"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."

-- Shay "Tel for Ireland" Given.

"His credentials are second to none. The only thing you have to question there is what's his English like."

- Steve Staunton on Terry Venables. Correction: Steve Staunton on Giovanni Trapattoni.

"The board of management agreed unanimously with the recommendation of the selection panel and have appointed Giovanni Trapattoni as the next manager of the Republic of Ireland senior international team."

- Yesterday's FAI statement. "Mercifully it's over," the nation cried.

"Ireland are not a second-rate team, they are supposed to be a first-rate team. Qualifying for the World Cup in 2010 will be hard, and playing against the Italian team will make me proud, but it should be possible for Ireland to come first."

- Trapattoni. He hasn't even landed here yet, but already it's a love thing.