Brian Kerr's reign as Republic of Ireland manager ended this evening with confirmation from the FAI that it would not be renewing his contract following Ireland's failure to qualify for next year's World Cup in Germany.
The 10 members of the FAI's board of management met for five hours at Dublin airport's Great Southern Hotel and while there were many topics on their agenda, Kerr's position commanded a full hour of debate.
The board members began their meeting at 4.30 and emerged shortly before 9.30pm. News of Kerr's fate was delivered to the media via FAI chief executive John Delaney who held a brief press conference.
"Following the meeting, the Board announced that the FAI is to recruit a new international manager to succeed Brian Kerr," Delaney said in a prepared statement.
"The board fully recognises the dedicatiton and passion applied by Brian and his support team in their quest to gain qualification for the major championships.
Delaney pin-pointed the decline in FIFA world rankings, Uefa standings and non qualification for the World Cup finals as the reason's behind the association's decision.
"The downward trend in our rankings and seedings has been very disappointing," he said, "and this will make qualification for future tournaments considerably more difficult and that has knock-on consequences for the development of the game.
Kerr was not in attendance but was informed of his fate, via his agent Fintan Drury, by the association's chief operations manager Tadhg O'Halloran.
In a statement issued through his agent he said he was "deeply saddened" by the decision.
"I believe the decision runs contrary to the much vaunted principals of the Genesis report," he said adding that while he would take time to consider his options he intended to remain in professional football.
Delaney, who confirmed he had not spoken with Kerr since last week's Switzerland game, said he attempted to call the 52-year old this afternoon. "I tried contacting him today but I think he was tied up in other phone calls," Delaney said.
The CEO, though, is hoping to speak with Kerr, along with assistant Chris Hughton and the rest of his backroom team in the coming days.
He refused to be drawn on when the search for Kerr's replacement would begin but sources indicate a number of potential suitors have already been sounded out. The CEO made no comment when questioned on this.
"We can all start speculating but I'm not prepared to do that," he said. "We will be keeping it within the sub-committee and bringing it to the board and that is how we will be conducting the issue.
"I want a manager that will bring us success, that's the bottom end of it. We're looking for a top class manager to bring us forward. It's a high profile job, a good job and we are confident of getting that."
Delaney said he would not rush an appointment.
"It's not about timing but who we get," he said. "Our approach will be more head hunting than the interview style of last time."
The three-man sub committee of Delaney, president David Blood and honorary secretary Michael Cody was set up to review the World Cup qualifying campaign and rule on Kerr's position and the trio will be now also responsible for appointing a new manager.
Martin O'Neill, Alex Ferguson and David O'Leary are among the bookmaker favourites although O'Leary maintains he has unfinished business at club level while Ferguson insists he will retire when he finishes with Manchester United.
O'Neill is, it would appear, be the most likely candidate as he has no club ties after leaving Celtic but that was only to be with his wife who is battling cancer.
Although international management is, at times, termed a 'part-time job' he would have to watch endless amount of club games in England and that might not appeal to the Northern Irish man considering he has more pressing issues at home.
Philip Troussier, the former Japan, South Africa and Nigeria - to name but a few - manager was snubbed in 2003 when Kerr was appointed but has already expressed his interest in the job and can expect an interview when the time comes around.
News of Kerr's departure comes as no surprise, however. He was effectively out of contract after the 0-0 draw with the Swiss a week ago which sealed the Republic of Ireland's World Cup fate.
Today's meeting was brought forward by 24 hours and while there was an outside chance the Dubliner could be asked to continue, it was always expected that the committee would bring the curtain down on his reign.
"Brian deserved to manage Ireland at some stage and he did so," Delaney said
The 10 members of the FAI's board of control are: John Delaney, David Blood, Maurice Fleming, Michael Cody, Eddie Murray, Paddy McCaul, Milo Corcoran, Jim McDonnell, Paraic Treanor and Donal Conway.