Dave O'Leary:As the only Irish contender with extensive experience in the English top flight, the former Arsenal defender is the bookies favourite, at least for the moment.
The 49-year-old, though, has something of a knack for alienating people, with few of those who have worked with him in the past ever seeming to have a good word to say about him.
He is not hugely popular within Merrion Square either, did not do terribly well at Aston Villa and the association is likely to look elsewhere first.
Foppe de Haan:The 64-year-old Dutchman is a well qualified and vastly experienced career coach who whose last club job, Herenveen, lasted 19 years and involved him taking them, amongst other things, from the second division to second place in the top flight and the Champions League.
Currently in charge of the Dutch under-21s, who he has guided to the last two European Championship titles. He is due to manage the national side at next year's Olympics but might just crave a crack at the senior international game that is unlikely to come at home.
Omar Troussier:Omar (formerly Philippe) Troussier nearly got the job once before when John Delaney proposed that he be appointed with Brian Kerr as his assistant and heir apparent, an arrangement that proved unacceptable to the Dubliner.
Has a remarkable CV that includes a string of European club jobs and spells in charge of seven national teams.
The 62-year-old managed South Africa at France'98 and guided Japan to the second round of the 2002 World Cup finals but has been out of work since parting company with Morocco, where he now lives, having recently converted to Islam.
John Aldridge: Like O'Leary, the former Liverpool striker is 49 but hasn't managed since parting company with Tranmere Rovers more than six years ago.
He did fairly well there and has been mentioned by members of the current squad as a viable candidate for the Ireland job.
His chances will have been severely damaged, though, by Steve Staunton's failure to make a better go of it and the FAI will presumably feel inclined to avoid being seen to make the same mistake twice.
Paul Jewell:Has apparently just told Bolton he's not ready to return to club management, but the FAI might feel they could tempt him with an international job.
Is said to interest the association and showed at Bradford City and Wigan that he can spot talent and get the most out of a modest collection of players. The 43 year-old has no experience of the international game but he is intelligent, articulate and - assuming the FAI increases its budget for the job - affordable. At this early stage that might be enough to mark him out as the front runner in a wide open race.
Staunton's Record
01/03/06: Friendly
Rep of Ireland 3 Sweden 0
04/05/06: Friendly
Rep of Ireland 0 Chile 1
16/08/06: Friendly
Rep of Ireland 0 Netherlands 4
02/09/06: European qualifier
Germany 1 Rep of Ireland 0
07/10/06: European qualifier
Cyprus 5 Rep of Ireland 2
11/10/06: European qualifier
Rep of Ireland 1 Czech Rep 1
15/11/06: European qualifier
Rep of Ireland 5 San Marino 0
07/02/07: European qualifier
San Marino 1 Rep of Ireland 2
24/03/07: European qualifier
Rep of Ireland 1 Wales 0
28/03/07: European qualifier
Rep of Ireland 1 Slovakia 0
23/05/07: Friendly
Rep of Ireland 1 Ecuador 1
26/05/07: Friendly
Rep of Ireland 1 Bolivia 1
22/08/07: Friendly
Denmark 0 Rep of Ireland 4
08/09/07: European qualifier
Slovakia 2 Rep of Ireland 2
12/09/07: European qualifier
Czech Rep 1 Rep of Ireland 0
13/10/07: Euro qualifier
Rep of Ireland 0 Germany 0
17/10/07: European qualifier
Rep of Ireland 1 Cyprus 1
