The FAI's Board of Management have met with Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton tonight but the outcome of the emergency meeting is still unknown.

Journalists concluded the meeting was initially scheduled for the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry at 6.30pm but it was then held at another location in the capital.

Staunton attended that meeting at the Radisson Hotel at Dublin airport in person and it is said to have lasted half an hour and now concluded.

The board meeting has apparently reconvened to another, unknown location - without Staunton - and the 10 members of the committee are currently discussing the manager's fate.

The FAI have not yet disclosed if Staunton has been sacked but the association is expected to confirm his departure to media at the Santry hotel later tonight.

Two rooms at the Crowne Plaza were earlier booked by an FAI official but Staunton and his employers never showed.   FAI security officials were, however, present at the Santry hotel.

Staunton was appointed 21 months ago on a four-year deal but is not expected to see out that contract and, indeed, is unlikely to be in charge for next month's game against Wales.

Following Ireland's 1-1 home draw with Cyprus last week Staunton insisted he would remain in the job but the swell of public pressure against him has forced his employer's hands.

The FAI's chief executive John Delaney recently distanced himself from Staunton's appointment despite having led a three-man team to find a successor to Brian Kerr.

Staunton is said to be furious with Delaney and has reportedly told his backroom team that he no longer feels he has his employer's support. He is braced to lose his job tonight.

Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy played with and managed Staunton in a green jersey and today hit out at those criticising his friend.

"I've been sick about people talking about Steve going and even sicker that some of his ex-colleagues, his peers and friends have been talking about him going," he said.

"So I'm not going to join in.  He was given a four-year contract and they knew it was a developing squad, and I don't think they expected to qualify.

"They made their decision and I'm not here to decide one way or the other.  Stan is a real good pal of mine. He was wonderful for me as a player and captain."

McCarthy, the current Wolves manager, added:  "They had the confidence in him to give him a four-year contract, and if they don't want to pursue it let them deal with it.

"I hope he's all right. I spoke to him and he still wants to do it. He's confident he's doing the right thing. Good luck to him because he's a great guy."

If Staunton does lose his job he will be owed considerable compensation.

With two years remaining on his contract, the manager should receive approximately €800,000 but, with his backroom team also due a payoff, the FAI will want to keep costs as low as possible.

But Staunton has joined forces with Michael Kennedy, the solicitor who acts for Roy Keane, and tonight's meeting is expected to authorise the opening of talks over severance terms.

Should Staunton be cut loose, the FAI may insist on a confidentiality agreement. But the manager is seething over the lack of support shown to him and may forgo a slice of the severance money in order to vent his spleen.

Packie Bonner could well find himself leading the senior team on a one-off basis in Cardiff next month should Staunton lose his job. He was goalkeeping coach under Brian Kerr but remains on the association's books in his current role as FAI Technical Director.

Don Givens stepped in as caretaker for a game in Greece five years ago but the under-21 manager has a European championship qualifier of his own to contend with the night before the senior team's game on November 17th.

The 10 members of the FAI's Board of Management are: John Delaney, David Blood, Paddy McCaul Michael Cody,  Eddie Murray, Eamon Naughton, Jim McConnell, Milo Corcoran, Paraic Treanor and Donal Conway.