Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge believes Norwich City boss Chris Hughton could succeed Giovanni Trapattoni as Republic of Ireland manager.
Aldridge is adamant the FAI must consider him as a potential long-term successor.
"In an ideal world, Giovanni will lead us to the finals next summer and we will revive the glory days that I was a part of in the late 1980s and early '90s, but the truth is we are very unlikely to qualify for Brazil 2014," he said. "Chris has done a tremendous job at Norwich this season. He was in charge of a team that could so easily have been dragged into the relegation zone, yet he finished the season in 11th place after a last day win away at Manchester City.
"Chris hasn't failed on any step of his management career - at Newcastle, Birmingham and now Norwich - and I'm so pleased for him because you couldn't meet a nicer fella."