Steve Staunton has received a guarded vote of confidence from the FAI despite the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2008 dreams all but evaporating in Prague last night.

In a lengthy statement the association's president, David Blood, and chief executive John Delaney reflect on the "progress" the team is making in terms of developing new talent.

But interestingly Delaney - the key figure in appointing Staunton 21 months ago - makes no direct reference to the manager, instead choosing to highlight the role the FAI has played in unearthing talent.

Blood is more unequivocal, referring to Staunton by name: "Stephen, his backroom team and the players must continue the work they are doing."

But Delaney falls short of guaranteeing the manager's position, failing to offer a ringing endorsement of the 38-year-old, who is almost half-way through what is proving a difficult four-year term.

Instead, the chief executive prefers to point to the extensive work being undertaken by the association behind the scenes to ensure a "conveyor belt of future talent" in the coming years.

With three games remaining in this European campaign, the Republic still cling to remote prospects of qualification although the Czechs require just three points from their next three games to progress.

Staunton has again emphasised his vision for the future and is confident his young squad will be positioned to mount a serious 2010 World Cup qualification bid beginning late next year.

Nevertheless, Delaney's refusal to wholeheartedly embrace his manager's long-term view could leave Staunton second guessing his employer's motives once this European campaign ends.

The chief executive's comments today are reminiscent of 11 months ago when he failed to offer Staunton unequivocal backing by standing over Blood's assurances to the rookie manager that his job was safe days after the Cyprus debacle.

Delaney, according to today's FAI statement, is "firmly focused on ensuring that future transition periods will not require the type of surgery currently being performed by Staunton."

"We are taking steps to ensure that we improve the conveyor belt of future talent coming through to our senior international team," he said. "The results of that investment won't reap dividends immediately but will over the medium to long term."

While stopping short of naming Staunton, Delaney perhaps alludes to the Dundalk man when suggesting future qualification for tournaments is created by "hard work and patience and not by waving a magic wand".

Delaney was a little more forthright when pushed on the matter on the RTÉ News this evening, saying that Staunton should be "given the time over the next couple of years" to get things right, and when asked if the manager had his support, he replied: "Of course".

Staunton, for his part, said he will be "working harder" in a bid to hit the ground running ahead of the 2010 campaign but conceded calls for his removal are inevitable.

"That's the world we live in at the moment," he told RTÉ Radio. "If it's not me it's [rugby coach] Eddie O'Sullivan, if it's not Eddie it's someone else.

"That's the way it is at the moment. There's no middle ground here, no common sense really. You can't be calling for a manger's head after every defeat," the Irish manager said.

Blood said the team had shown "great character" in taking the game to the Czechs last night despite having conceded a killer early goal. He conceded the squad was one in transition but said his support of Staunton was clear and unquestionable

"Like everybody else, the FAI is disappointed with the result in Prague, but the performance offers a lot of hope for the future," he said.

"Stephen, his backroom team and the players must continue the work they are doing. Stephen is a young manager, but he has already put his stamp on the squad and has been instrumental in fast-tracking young emerging talent through the ranks."