FAI chief executive John Delaney took to the airwaves today in an attempt to straighten out what, presumably, the association felt were misconstrued comments on Steve Staunton's position yesterday.

Almost all sections of the media reported that Delaney had failed to offer his full support to the manager but today Delaney expressed his  disappointment at those accounts.

Yet the fact remains that on a number of occasions during yesterday's  press briefing in Dublin, Delaney side-stepped direct questions regarding the under-fire manager's future in the role.

And, despite his attempt to clarify the situation, the issue still remains somewhat clouded. While Delaney confirmed he "expects" the Louthman to see out his four-year contract, he was again reluctant to confirm Staunton would still be in the job next month should Ireland's faltering Euro 2008 campaign take another hammering tonight.

In an interview with RTE Radio and a statement on the FAI's website, Delaney's comments fell short of a ringing endorsement.

"Stephen has a four-year contract.  We want to see him see that contract out and we expect to see him see that contract out," was Delaney's response to the situation this lunchtime.

And when pressed, as he was yesterday, on whether that stance changes if  Ireland lose at home to the Czechs tonight, Delaney refused to speculate.

"What I won't do, as I said yesterday, is speak about any of our  managers - be that Stephen Staunton, Don Givens or Sean McCaffrey - on a  match to match basis.

"I was asked yesterday, 'what happens if we lose, what happens if we win' . . . we will not, with any contract in the FAI, comment on a day-to-day or match-to-match basis," he told RTE Radio this lunchtime.

His comments again lacked the certainty of FAI president David Blood on Monday  night who was emphatic when stating that Staunton was in the job for the long haul.

Delaney hasn't reaffirmed those comments to the same extent, something Staunton could desperately do with after four defeats on the trot and facing the most important night of his fledgling managerial career.

Yesterday, Staunton told journalists he had been assured of his position. "Everything's fine, I'm going to be here no matter what's written . . . no matter what happens tomorrow I'll be here next month."

Of his own position as chief executive, Delaney said: "One aspect of the  development of our game is of course international football, but that's  just one aspect. In terms of my own future as chief executive, we're the biggest sport  in the country.  It's not just about the international game, it's about  development of the game in general."

Naturally, the international stage isn't the be all and end all but  Delaney was a key figure in Staunton's appointment.

Staunton could yet defy expectations and prove his worth at this level  but the signals are ominous - despite the FAI's insistence that the "management team" is "world class".

Delaney is equally as culpable as the manager and players should the slide continue. He may be reluctant to offer a ringing endorsement of his manager on the day of a crucial game, but should Ireland suffer defeat tonight supporters will demand clarification. Evasive answers won't suffice then.