PROVING that, if nothing else, they possess stiff necks, all but one of the besieged FAI officer board met somewhere in the proximity of 80 Merrion Square yesterday, and then left acting-secretary Brendan Menton to indicate that the quintet would stand firm until next Friday's senior council meeting.

So ended a day of rumour and counter rumour, during which sources have confirmed that pressure was brought to bear from within as well as without the association on two of the officers to resign. Indeed, it was made abundantly clear to the pair that this was the only course of action.

Clearly, the remaining officers have decided to await the next twists in the saga - and, with the Sunday papers due, they shouldn't be too far away to see if attention can be diverted from them.

The latest indictment of the officer board's behaviour comes in a statement by the association's former accountant, Michael Morris. Following the lead of the former national director of coaching, Joe McGrath, Morris has issued legal proceedings against the FAI through the same solicitor, Dr Mary Redmond.

More damning still, he has admitted he was pressurised into making omissions from the lists of ticket debtors which he presented to the finance committee and senior council.

Morris also disputed claims that he wasn't pressurised into resigning and that, contrary to a statement by Michael Hyland, "had another job to go to". This also runs counter to a comment by Des Casey at last Wednesday week's notorious press conference where he said he was not aware of any pressure being brought to bear on Morris.

The statement by Morris said: "Above all I object to the timing of my resignation, a date fixed by Joe Delaney, and the circumstances with which it coincided. I asked Joe Delaney on a number of occasions on Thursday (February) 15th and Friday 16th to change the date, but he would; not do so.

Morris added: "Also, an incomplete account was given at the FAI press conference on Wednesday, February 21st, regarding the alleged shortfall of £200,000 in money accrued from the FAI's allocation of 1994 World Cup tickets. All statements quoted in respect of monies owing were attributed to me, but prior to the November 1994 meetings I had queried Delaney, who was not only the treasurer but the person who handled all the World Cup ticket trading, and he had assured me there was no reason to be concerned."

Morris added that he would be happy to co-operate fully in the current investigations by Bastow Charleton chartered accountants into the FAI's ticket management policy in general, and at US'94 in particular.

In response Brendan Menton merely commented: "If Michael was an employee of the association and feels dissatisfied with the association, he's entitled to seek protection under the law. The officers have to answer these allegations themselves."

Menton denied that he, personally, had sought the resignations of two of the officers. "Thats not my prerogative. That power belongs to the senior council."

The over-worked acting secretary also said that "my information is that Louis Kilcoyne intends to stay on as president until March 8th, when the vote (of confidence) will be tabled." As for Joe Delaney, he said: "Yes, I spoke to him. His attitude is he won't resign.

Almost as an aside to all of this a few by the name of Mick McCarthy visited Merrion Square and reportedly very disheartened and annoyed by the trouble afflicting his new employers.

A brief statement earlier in the day issued on behalf of the FAI said: "At a meeting with Mick McCarthy this afternoon, it was decided to postpone the appointment of an under-2l manager due to: the present situation.

Ironically, therefore, he and his assistant, Ian Evans (a man the association did not want imposed on them as under-21 manager a la Maurice Setters in the Jack Charllon regime), will take charge of the republic of Ireland under-21 side for the match against Russia on March 26th.