New Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton is to cast the net far and wide in a bid to recruit new blood and fresh legs as well as enticing retired players to reconsider their position ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign this autumn - the draw for which is later this month.

Staunton (36) was speaking at his unveiling as Brian Kerr¿s successor and with just six weeks before his first game - a home friendly with Sweden on March 1st - is ready to immerse himself immediately into the task ahead.

"This is the ultimate honour," he said. "I¿m fully aware of the responsibilities but I¿m here to achieve success. I¿m the boss, the gaffer and at the end of the day ultimately the buck stops here with me. Our aim is to qualify for top championships and we will need to blood players and even pursue the granny rule to achieve those aims."

Staunton¿s football consultant, Bobby Robson, will shortly hold talks with Stephen Carr who retired after the recent World Cup qualifying campaign. The defender was one of Robson¿s last signings as Newcastle manager and the 72-year old is keen to persuade the 29-year-old into a change of heart.

While Staunton is content with the current crop of players he acknowledges an injection of fresh blood would also serve the team well. Therefore players like Bolton¿s Kevin Nolan, Sunderland's Liam Lawrence and Reading's Dave Kitson will be pursued by the management team. Nolan has once refused to declare but Lawrence has shown a willingness and could be on board in the coming months.

"If we can get five or six new players in that will be very important," Staunton said. "We have to get the team up and running again and get the fans behind us. Fresh talent in the squad will help that along. There are, of course, also one or two who have retired recently so we¿ll definitely be looking at that."

Staunton, the Republic¿s most capped player with 102 appearances, dismissed suggestions his lack of managerial experience would hinder him as he journeys into a four-year-term. He admitted the job would need "hard graft and a slice of luck" but repeatedly touched on restoring pride and passion to the jersey. He said Robson¿s experienced ear would serve him well in the initial stages.

"If I can¿t learn something off Bobby then I¿m not the right man for this position," Staunton said. "Bobby was my choice, my decision alone and I¿m delighted he¿s on board with me. We have to pick up, dust down and look forward, not back. While I don¿t underestimate the task at hand, I¿m confident, committed and determined."

Rarely, however, has the appointment of a manager been received with so little enthusiasm. The Irish fans were sceptical, to say the least, when the news was leaked last week. Nevertheless, FAI chief executive John Delaney is adamant the three-man sub-committee - which he led to find Kerr¿s successor - has unearthed the best candidate.

At the time of Kerr¿s departure in November, Delaney said the FAI wanted a "top class manager to bring us forward". Today, he deflected suggestions that Staunton was not indeed that man, instead insisting he had found the right person to get the best out of the players.

"We are on the right path," Delaney said. "There was huge interest in the position and a lot of applications but I feel we have the right person to get the best out of the players. This was a collective appointment and we were all on the one hymn sheet with this one."

Delaney refused to speculate on other candidates. Once the Martin O¿Neill avenue was exhausted it is believed Staunton was always the Association¿s top choice. Delaney, though, rejected reports the FAI failed to honour recent appointments with other former internationals.

"If anyone can tell me the times, dates, and hotels we were to supposed to have met people and didn¿t then I¿ll hold my hands up. It is mischievous and inaccurate for anyone to say we had meetings set up which we did not attend."

With regards the domestic league, Staunton said he was aware of "certain aspects" of the game here. He will travel on occasion to games. "I will come see players on the recommendation of my trustworthy source who will be scouting for me."

Delaney, meanwhile, confirmed the national team would remain at their Portmarnock base for the Sweden game at least.