It is understood an unscheduled meeting will be held at some point before the weekend – possibly tomorrow – where members will consider the future of the national team.

Sources said the meeting was to “assess the current situation” of the national team.

Staunton has been under increasing pressure recently, culminating in the failure to beat Cyprus at Croke Park last week in a game which finished 1-1.

And Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle admits he fears for the future of Staunton.

“I don’t know what is happening to be honest.”

“From what I hear it doesn’t look good, we will just have to wait and see.

“Steve is determined to see it out and stick it through until the World Cup (qualifying) campaign.

“Because I have been in England I have not seen the papers in Ireland, but I have been told that there is a meeting with the FAI this week and we will see what comes of that.

“He (Staunton) has a contract for another two years and I am sure he wants to see that through.”

Doyle told Sky Sports News: “From my limited experience of international football he has been fine with me.”

However, the Royals forward acknowledges the players have not produced the goods.

“Results should have been better,” continued Doyle. “We have done well against the bigger teams, but struggled against teams that are below us and that we should beat.

“It was not good enough against Cyprus. In the bigger games we seem to do well and I don’t know what the problem is. It has been like this for a few years with Ireland.

“It is not the first time we have not qualified, we did not qualify for the last competition (2006 World Cup) either.

“Looking at what is coming out it does not look great [for Staunton], but we will just have to wait and see.”