THE FAI has agreed a deal with an English headhunting firm to accelerate the process to replace Steve Staunton.

Chief executive John Delaney and President David Blood spent yesterday in negotiations with the recruitment experts who are believed to be experienced in the football industry and also work for the English FA.

Discussions took place in the association's headquarters in Merrion Square and at the nearby Merrion Hotel where a deal was hammered out.

It's understood that the consultants, who were flown in from the UK at short notice on Wednesday night, will be tasked with providing a shortlist of potential candidates to the FAI.

The developments contradict comments made by Delaney at the announcement of Staunton's departure on Tuesday night.

While he confirmed that the process of replacing the Louthman would be outsourced, he said that the next course of action would not be ratified until a board meeting next week where a list of 'football people' to be given the responsibility of finding a new man would be drawn up.

Criticism

Delaney also suggested that there would be patience in finding a successor but it appears that the FAI are keen to move quickly after a week where they have come under criticism.

Last night, an FAI spokesman, when contacted by the Irish Independent, denied that talks of any description had taken place.

"We categorically deny that any meeting took place today between John Delaney, David Blood and anyone else in relation to the senior international manager's job," he said.

The English FA frequently use such recruitment firms to fill key roles within their association, with the sports practice of international company Odgers, Ray and Berndtson currently involved in the process of appointing a new chairman.

Ireland's next match is against Wales in Cardiff next month where under-21 boss Don Givens will be in charge.

That will be the last match of the year with no further action scheduled until February. The FAI are keen to have a new manager in charge by that point.

- Daniel McDonnell