Trap and FAI hold 'useful and professional' meeting

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni held a 'useful and professional' meeting with Football Association of Ireland Chief executive, John Delaney, in Dublin on Friday .

After surviving the guillotine on Wednesday night, when an emergency meeting of the FAI's ten-man Board of Control spared the 73-year old his job, Trapattoni flew back into Dublin for talks with Delaney.

Sources close to the veteran Italian manager in Italy had this week said they had been expecting a different outcome to Wednesday's gathering of the FAI chiefs, called following the 6-1 hammering by Germany at the Aviva Stadium last Friday.

"They were convinced that it was only a matter of time before he was sacked," Paddy Agnew, the Irish Times Rome Correspondent said on RTE yesterday.

It is believed that concerns were expressed about a number of items in relation to Trapattoni's tenure: chief among them being the fact that he has refused to attend Premier League games in England. It is also believed that there were some members irked at Trapattoni's treatment of certain players and the communications issues which have blighted much of his four years at the Irish helm.

However, Trapattoni is reported to be planning to take in tomorrow's Premier League game between Norwich and Arsenal at Carrow Road, where Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington will be in action. Former Shelbourne player Hoolohan has won just one Ireland cap - back in May 2008 - while Pilkington has, thus far, only appeared for the U21s.

FAI sources have indicated that the Italian has agreed to the FAI's requests from their meeting on Wednesday.

Before the European Championships, Trap irked Kevin Foley, when he cut him from his squad, to include Paul McShane, on the eve of departure for Poland, and the player refuses to make himself available to Trapattoni now - as does Darron Gibson, similarly frustrated while a member of the Euro 2012 panel.

The communications issue raised its head again last weekend when it emerged that Stephen Kelly had to be convinced to board the plane for Torshavn after having an exchange of views with assistant boss Marco Tardelli - who had caused another storm pre-Germany game when he 'joked' that it was due to a tackle by McShane that captain Robbie Keane sustained the injury which kept him out of that game.

Andy Reid, Stephen Reid, Marc Wilson, James McClean and James McCarthy are among others to have encountered difficulty in communicating with the manager.

However, today's meeting, it is said, has gone some way in helping to heal some wounds. 

And it is believed that tomorrow's game at Carrow Road will see Trap begin a period of seeing games in the flesh. Until now, he has left that brief to Tardelli and a team of scouts that includes former internationals Mick Martin and Frank Stapleton.

In a brief statement, Trapattoni said, following today's meeting with Delaney in Abbotstown: “John and I met today to clarify the thoughts of the Board and these were agreed and confirmed by me. It was a useful and professional conversation and I thank him for this. During the meeting we  discussed a number points that were raised by the Board to help us continue to improve our work for the Association.”

Meanwhile, an FAI statement said:

"The Football Association of Ireland today announced that its Chief Executive held a constructive meeting with Giovanni Trapattoni in Abbotstown following the FAI Board of Management’s decision to reaffirm the manager’s position on Wednesday.

"The meeting recognised that the Association and Giovanni have always enjoyed a solid relationship. It also dealt with some issues that needed to be addressed following Wednesday’s meeting of the FAI Board of Management and this was done in a workmanlike and professional manner."