Robson likely to carry on role - FAI

Bobby Robson's future as adviser to Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton remained uncertain last night but FAI officials expressed confidence that even if the 73-year-old is told by doctors to lighten his workload he will opt to maintain his involvement with the Irish senior squad.

The Englishman is due to meet his consultant today in order to discuss the results of the tests he underwent while in hospital over the weekend, after which he is likely to meet up with Staunton.

The speed with which he was allowed to return home after becoming ill while attending an Ipswich game on Saturday suggests initial reports concerning the seriousness of the situation were somewhat exaggerated but the Ireland manager admitted yesterday he is still not clear what the implications of the situation are for his managerial set-up.

"Bobby's fine, he's at home," said Staunton. "He's seeing his specialist and I'm going over to see him so I'll find out a bit more at that stage. From talking to his wife I know he's supposed to be taking it easy but that's not possible with him. He was hugely disappointed not to be here today."

The pair had intended to attend this evening's English League Championship game between Sunderland and Birmingham City and Staunton wasn't ruling out the possibility that they would go ahead with that plan. Robson's longer-term involvement with the side, though, does seem doubtful after a succession of health problems but one FAI official suggested that the veteran coach would seek to cut back in other areas in order to remain involved in the Ireland set-up.

"The likelihood is that something will have to give but Bobby's involved in a thousand different things and I'd be shocked if he chose to give up the Ireland job," he said. "Of course, the doctors could tell him to pack it in because of the travel or whatever but failing that I think it's far more likely that he would look to lighten his load in other areas."

The FAI, meanwhile, has signed a deal with Oceanico Developments that will provide the association with "a six-figure sum" in cash and the senior squad with access to the company's leisure developments in Portugal for training camps during the next couple of years.

Staunton brought his squad there in May and said yesterday he viewed the trip as a considerable success. He said that it is his intention to avoid playing games in June so as to give squad members as long a break over the summer as possible and so it seems likely that he and the first-team panel will be heading south again next May.

Gerry Fagan of Oceanico said yesterday that while the deal related primarily to the senior squad the company would work with the FAI to meet any requirements the managers of the association's other teams might have.

He also hinted at a longer-term relationship between the two parties when he revealed that one of the company's developments due to be completed in 2008 would have specialist sports facilities including football pitches.