BRIAN KERR yesterday dismissed suggestions that he could be on his way out of the FAI after lending the Republic of Ireland to victory over Ghana in a play-off for third place in the world under-20 championship.

After the tension of a dramatic game had subsided, Kerr surprised many at his post match press conference when he said: "I have been working with the FAI for a couple of months and I hope to be with them for another couple of months".

The remark was interpreted as hinting at friction between the association and the management team responsible for Ireland's highest placing in a major championship.

Later, however, he was at pains to dismiss speculation about precipitive action. "I am not unhappy with the association, it's just that I'd like to see them having a little more faith in the way I'm going about doing my job.

"At times I get impatient with officialdom and the petty bickering that goes on. I didn't have that when I was with St Patrick's Athletic where I was used to being in control of things and everybody pulled together."

Kerr has won international acclaim here for his management of the Irish squad and earlier was identified as one of the more innovative coaches in Malaysia in the last three weeks.

Before returning to Dublin yesterday, the Irish players and officials received many messages of congratulation for their performance in avenging an earlier defeat by Ghana in the championship.

Ghana fielded most of the players who had won the world under-17 championship two years ago and Saturday's success lent further weight to the theory that with a little luck in their semi-final tie with the champions, Argentina, last Wednesday, the Irish team might well have gone on to win the title.

Saturday's win was watched by the Irish ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Brendan Lyons and later players and management attended a victory party in Delaney's Irish pub in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

Some of the Irish team, including the team captain, Thomas Morgan, return to an uncertain future after being released by their clubs at the end of the season.

Morgan, who was with Blackburn Rovers for three seasons, confirmed that he had received a couple of offers and would take some time in considering them, before his next move.

Trevor Molloy, the lending Irish scorer in the competition with three goals, described reports that he had signed for St Patrick's as premature. He said that he would not make a decision on his plans for at least another week.