Staunton angry over moves to contact parents

Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton has reacted angrily to media attempts to contact his parents in the wake of the 5-2 defeat to Cyprus.

Addressing a press conference at Lansdowne Road this afternoon Staunton called on those present to tell their "media friends" to "leave my mother and father alone".

"Stop trying to get in contact with them," said the Louthman. "I don't know who it is . . . well I have a good idea, I know what papers and what media are trying to do it.

"It's nothing to do with my mother and father. It's to do with us and the team," he added.

Staunton was yesterday depicted as Kermit the frog on the front-page of the Sunnewspaper, while the Daily Star's headline and columnist Eamonn Dunphy called for the FAI to "Stop the Bullshit".

The Sunalso sent a "journalist" dressed as Miss Piggy to the Irish training session in Malahide yesterday, where he was photographed shaking hands with Damien Duff.

Ireland take on the Czech Republic in Lansdowne Road tomorrow in search of their first win in their Euro 2008 qualifiers following the Cyprus embarrassment and a 1-0 defeat to Germany in Stuttgart.

On the pitch, things got even worse for Staunton today, with the confirmation that Celtic winger Aiden McGeady, goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, defender Andy O'Brien, midfielder Stephen Ireland and Reading striker Kevin Doyle are all ruled out through injury.

But Staunton did finally call on the services of Everton's Lee Carsley last night as his woefully lengthy injury list grew.