FAI chief executive John Delaney insisted yesterday that the need to pay compensation in order to secure the release of the man recommended by the association's headhunters to take over as manager of the Irish team, would not prevent the organisation from getting their man.

"What I'll say is that we're in a better position financially now than we've ever been and if they (Don Givens, Don Howe and Ray Houghton) come back with someone, who we think deserves the market value price, then we'd certainly look at it.

"If they're high stature then maybe they can provide something extra in terms of commercial deals and that's a hidden benefit that can come back to you.

"As for compensation, we'd be prepared to pay it, if it arose, yeah we would. If compensation was an issue, and I'm not saying it's going to be, then that's something I'd be willing to take on board as well."

Delaney's comments suggest that the field for the job extends beyond the ranks of the game's unemployed and that Gerard Houllier could still be a major contender despite reports that his candidature had effectively been ended by the reluctance of the FAI to pay their French counterparts for his release.

The association's chief executive was speaking ahead of this afternoon's fixtures meeting in Sofia where caretaker manager Don Givens will be among the Irish negotiators.

The absence from today's gathering of the man who will guide Ireland through the campaign is viewed in some quarters as being of critical importance but, says Delaney, the fact the limited availability of Croke Park has left the Irish delegation with so little room for manoeuvre means it is of much less importance than might otherwise be the case.

"It's not a problem in any way given the limitations we have," he said. "This is not an open procedure where we're going in saying here are 10 games to play. We're saying we need to play our five games in Croke Park on certain dates. That's the whole purpose here. Those limitations are shackling us and not having a manager will not change that."

There has been mounting criticism of the amount of time being taken to get a new man in place but Delaney insists that the process is nearing its conclusion even though he insists there are no deadlines to be met.

"It's not compulsory to have someone in place by the 22nd (the date of next week's board meeting) or the Brazil game. It might be preferable but it's not compulsory. The most important thing is that we get the best appointment for Irish football. That's why we are taking our time at it.

"We are moving along a bit, though, and I am meeting the three lads later in the week," he said. "I'll have an update from the lads later this week, I would expect them to give me a good briefing. We might have a preferred candidate for the meeting on the 22nd, I don't know, we'll have to wait and see, but there's no doubt that things will move up a gear in the next week or two."