Roy Keane has delivered a damning assessment of Ireland’s protracted search for a successor to Steve Staunton, accusing his country’s football authorities of “doing everything backwards.” The Sunderland manager has long been a staunch critic of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and he has now questioned the four-month delay in unearthing a new appointment.

Staunton left his post in October last year, after Ireland had failed to qualify for the European Championship. The FAI announced that a three-man panel of ‘experts’, featuring Don Givens – also the first-team’s caretaker manager - Ray Houghton and Don Howe would undertake the task of securing a replacement, since when there have been numerous favourites with the bookmakers, but no decision.

The FAI have stated that further developments are “imminent” – the new man may finally be announced next week – with Giovanni Trapattoni and Terry Venables the leading candidates to replace Staunton. Billy Davies, the former Derby County manager, is also understood to have been interviewed, as have many others, but the process has undoubtedly been laborious.

Several senior players have expressed their disquiet at the state of limbo and Keane, the most influential player of his generation, has added his voice to the clamour. The 36-year-old has endured a fractious relationship with the governing body, regularly raising concerns about the facilities and treatment afforded to players. Famously, he walked away from the 2002 World Cup finals.

“That’s the FAI for you,” Keane said on Friday. “I am not being smart, but why do we need three men on a panel? I think the players have simply questioned why it has taken so long, because there are some quality managers available. I recommended David O'Leary at the start, but he ruled himself out, but it is typical of the FAI. They do everything backwards.

“Trust me. I have played for Ireland since I was 14 up to a couple of years ago and they will always try to cut corners and do it on the cheap and they will never change, not in our lifetime, unless they get new people in to run it.

"I hope they get the right manager because there are some good players in the Ireland squad - not world-class players, but some good players - and the manager needs to be in place to get his own men in, to watch these players and to watch the under-21s, who put in some good performances against England this week. Ultimately, he needs to get all that in place and get the structure right.

"The way the FAI are probably looking at it is that the (World Cup) qualifiers don’t start until September, so they can wait and save a few bob, but why have three men to appoint and interview a manager? Why do you have to interview someone like Terry Venables? Maybe sit down for a chat, but someone like that can say ‘you know my credentials’. Why does he need to be interviewed? It’s typical FAI.

“The Brazil game this week was a great occasion for the country and the fans turn up in numbers, which is brilliant, the players turn up to play and they don’t even have a manager. I know the English FA have more power and money, but there are good managers who are out there and available. What must Terry Venables be

thinking? He’s a top coach who might just think ‘forget it’.

“He would be better walking away, although the other argument is that by taking their time they will get it right. And I hope they do. I am an Ireland fan now of course, I want them to do well – I’m fiercely interested - and why not Terry Venables? They are just taking so long you wonder if something is going on there.

“The country deserves success and some stability. Even when Brian Kerr and Steve Staunton were in charge, they didn’t feel secure, but you need someone who is going to be given the job for four years and be allowed to get on with it.”

Keane’s coaching career is still in its infancy, but the prospect of managing Ireland appeals, albeit with a hefty caveat. “Yes I’d be interested in the Ireland job and certainly international management one day,” he said, “but it would have to be in a few years’ time. And they’d all have to go, the whole of the FAI, every single blazer and committee man. But can you imagine me working for the FAI?”