Although FAI president David Blood assured Steve Staunton on Monday that his position as Republic of Ireland manager will be, without question, safe no matter what the outcome of tonight's game with the Czech Republic, the association's chief executive John Delaney was far less forthcoming about the matter when pressed last evening.

Delaney refused to directly elaborate on, or indeed reaffirm, Blood's comments regarding under-fire Staunton's position, requesting instead that the public get behind the team at Lansdowne Road.

He side-stepped direct questions asking if Staunton would - as the manager himself insists he will - be in charge next month for the San Marino game should Ireland lose again tonight.  "It doesn't come into the equation," Delaney said.

"The first point is," he said, "in terms of Stephen Staunton and the management team, the FAI support that and I support that and David Blood as president does as well and that's the way it stands, no problems."

No problems?  Perhaps Blood's comments were deemed sufficient, but the fact Delaney, a prime mover behind Staunton's appointment, refused to back the Louthman as vigorously as his free-talking president did at the team hotel in Portmarnock the other night, speaks volumes.

"I'll be consistent here," he added, "I don't comment on contracts. We don't comment on anyone's contract unless we have something to say.  So if I start answering  'Is he in for this game or the game after or the game after', well we don't do that.  I haven't done it in the past and I wont do it in the future."

But many will feel these comments are somewhat reminiscent of the FAI's approach to Brian Kerr's contractual situation during  the latter stages of the former manager's reign.

Kerr had grown frustrated with what he saw as the association's lack of communication on the matter when it appeared - and, indeed, proved to be the case - that only World Cup qualification would save him.

Blood went out of his way to allay fears both Staunton and, indeed, Delaney's positions were under threat, stating that both men were "consolidating their positions" within the association.  When asked if Staunton could walk should the team lose to the Czechs Blood emphatically replied:  "No. Positively no".

Delaney was nowhere near as emphatic.  He avoided direct questions on Staunton's position, or at least his potential position come what may, instead calling on supporters to back the team before also highlighting certain aspects of recent media criticism which had "disappointed" him.

"The president said it on Monday, and I'm saying it today and the board and family of football are supporting Stephen's appointment," he said.

So, the association stands by that initial appointment but factoring in recent results and performances does the chief executive still maintain that stance today considering the disappointing start to European qualification?

"It doesn't come into the equation," he said.  "We've a game tomorrow night with 36,000 people coming to it. Of course we're disappointed with the Cyprus result, it was a poor performance but it's about tomorrow night and getting behind Stephen and the management team.

". . .there's good days ahead, there's bad days ahead.  Football runs through cycles...we're not going to be deterred from the strategic development of the game because we lose a game or two.

"We appointed an experienced management team and Bobby Robson is part of that," Delaney added.  "It's extremely unfortunate that Bobby has been ill and the 10 or 12 injuries don't help in any way but. . .we cant be judged as an association on the result of one or two games."