Youth team coach Brian Kerr has officially applied for the Republic of Ireland managers job, according to reports in Dublin this afternoon.
The former St Patrick's Athletics boss has always said he would be interested in managing the senior squad but wanted to consider his position before formally throwing his name into the hat.
A spokesman for the FAI refused to confirm whether Kerr had put his name forward, insisting no shortlist of candidates has been drawn up at this stage.
Kerr has guided underage teams to nine major international finals, winning the European Championships with both the Under-16s and Under-18s, and has worked with many of the current senior team in the past, including Robbie Keane, Damien Duff and Shay Given.
Officials from the FAI are meeting in Dundalk today, primarily to discuss the implementation of the recent Genesis report, but the vacant manager's post is understood to be on the agenda.