Frank Stapleton, the former Republic of Ireland striker, has backed the impending appointment of Giovanni Trapattoni as the country's new manager.

Trapattoni is due to be confirmed in the post tomorrow following a Football Association of Ireland board meeting.

John Delaney, the Football Association of Ireland's chief executive, is understood to be meeting the 68-year-old Italian in Salzburg today to complete the negotiations.

Trapattoni is currently in charge of Red Bull Salzburg, so will be unable to take up his new position until the end of the Austrian League season at the end of April.

Stapleton said: “Everybody knows what a great CV he has, which stands up to great scrutiny, so it’s very positive

“When Steve Staunton left the job, in my opinion they had to look for somebody very experienced at international level and who had enjoyed success.

“I suppose they’ve gone down the same lines as England in many ways [with Fabio Capello].

“But if he [Trapattoni] can’t do it, then we’re struggling.”

Asked whether he was concerned the FAI had failed to appoint an Irishman, the former Arsenal forward told Sky Sports: “No, not at all.”

Trapattoni is expected to bring with him Claudio Gentile, the legendery, tough-tackling Italian midfielder, as his assistant and Fausto Rossi as his fitness coach.

Liam Brady, the former Republic play-maker who played under Trapattoni at Juventus in the early 1980s, will also form part of the backroom team, potentially as general manager. Brady was a contemporary of Stapleton's at Arsenal in the late 1970s.

Due to Trapattoni’s ongoing immediate commitment to Salzburg, plans for a March training camp or a friendly have been shelved.

It means his first game in charge is likely to be the arranged friendly against Serbia at Croke Park in Dublin on May 24.

However, it is two games next year that are certain to be eagerly anticipated as the Republic face Italy on April 1 and October 10 as part of their qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup.

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