A press conference arranged to announce the appointment of the FAI's new technical director in Dublin today has been abruptly cancelled.
Less than 24 hours before the announcement was due, the FAI said that the conference would not now take place. A spokesman for the association said that he was not in a position to say when it would be reconvened.
He also declined to explain why the appointment was not going ahead as scheduled, but conceded that discussions had "run into difficulties".
The post is a key one in the FAI's administrative structure, with the successful candidate taking overall responsibility for the installation and implementation of a nationwide coaching programme.
First-round interviews took place shortly after the post was advertised some months ago, but officials refused to confirm or deny rumours that a well-known name in European coaching had been shortlisted for the position.
The re-styled post incorporates that of the the old national director of coaching, which has been vacant since the resignation of Joe McGrath some 18 months ago. McGrath was later appointed national team coach in New Zealand.
Meanwhile, St Patrick's Athletic hope to have Thomas Morgan back in contention for a start in this evening's first-round cup replay at Richmond Park (kick off 7.30). The midfielder missed Friday night's game due to a bout of the flu, but Pat Dolan indicated yesterday that he may be back in the side tonight.
Dolan may be forced into making a change at the back, however, as both Packie Lynch and Colin Hawkins are suffering the after effects of the 2-2 draw. The visitors, meanwhile, add Tommy Hewitt and Paul Carroll to the squad and manager Tommy Lynch, whose only worry is a minor foot injury which John Lacey picked up, remains optimistic about his side's chances of achieving, this time, what they appeared likely to when they led 2-0 on Friday.
Terry Venables is not the only name in the frame for the Northern Ireland manager's job, according to Irish Football Association president Jim Boyce.
Boyce confirmed that he met the former England manager in London on Friday. He claimed that Venables was just one top coach he wanted on his shortlist, which will go before the IFA's international committee for final approval.
Former Everton boss Joe Royle joined Ron Atkinson and Bruce Rioch in turning down the chance to coach Northern Ireland last week, but Boyce has said that he is in no hurry to find a successor to Bryan Hamilton.
