IRELAND coach Murray Kidd has been asked by the IRFU to attend a meeting in Dublin today with officials of the union. It is anticipated that the meeting could mark the end of Kidd's tenure as Ireland coach.

While the statement issued by the union was short and terse, its wording was surely significant. "The IRFU has asked the Irish coach Murray Kidd to attend a meeting tomorrow (Tuesday). The purpose of the meeting is to discuss matters relating to the performances and future preparation of the Irish team.

IRFU officials would not elaborate on the statement, but, in the current climate, that is understandable. I understand that the Ireland manager Pat Whelan will not attend the meeting today. The matter is effectively now out of the manager's hands.

He had attended a meeting on Sunday morning in Dublin when the coaching, management and performances of the team were discussed by the officers of the IRFU and the election sub committee, the body responsible for picking the coach and selectors.

While such meetings take place regularly during the season, the meeting on Sunday had added significance after Ireland's dreadful performance in the 29-37 defeat to Italy last Saturday and the recent series of defeats.

Before the announcement by the IRFU yesterday Kidd was quoted as stating that he had not heard anything from the IRFU. He added: "I spoke to Pat Whelan on Sunday night and he told me to carry on with the preparation for the match against France. That is the situation." Then came the IRFU announcement and such a meeting, held in the current circumstances in the middle of the week, surely carries its own implications.

Kidd knew he was under pressure prior to Ireland's departure last Sunday week for winter heat training in the Algarve. His problems were obviously severely compounded after the display against Italy. Recurring defeats are not new to Ireland but six losses from the last seven internationals allied to the 70-38 defeat by the Barbarians, left Kidd vulnerable in the extreme as a professional coach to a professional team.

What has been hard to accept is that - whatever about being defeated even by countries from outside the big powers - there is no sign of any significant improvement.

It is right that Kidd be given the opportunity to meet the union officials and he is likely to be given the opportunity to resign. Certainly the desire will be to handle an extremely difficult situation with as much dignity and delicacy as possible.

Yesterday was a day of hectic activity for some union officials. But no move will be made to appoint a successor to Kidd or to make an interim appointment until after the coach meets the union officials this afternoon.

The IRFU would not state yesterday who would be attending the meeting, nor the time or location of it. But I gather it will be in the late afternoon. The IRFU president Bobby Deacy will preside at the meeting. It is also likely to be attended by other officers of the union and members of the election sub committee.

Following the meeting this afternoon, a statement will be issued by the IRFU.