Mick McCarthy quits Irish job

Mick McCarthy's reign as Republic of Ireland manager is over after he agreed a compensation package with the Football Association of Ireland.

McCarthy's position had been under threat after his high-profile row with former captain Roy Keane, which saw the Manchester United midfielder sent home early from the World Cup.

The pressure built with defeats in Ireland's opening Euro 2004 qualifiers against Russia and Switzerland and McCarthy today ended his stint as boss just over a year early.

McCarthy, whose departure will be announced formally this evening, was strongly linked with the vacant managerial posts at Leeds and Sunderland after guiding the Irish to the World Cup second round.

He took over from Jack Charlton as Republic boss in March 1996 and initially struggled in his new role, failing to reach the 1998 World Cup in France and Euro 2000 in Belgium and Holland.

But the Republic defied the odds to reach the finals of this summer's World Cup, qualifying via a two-legged play-off win over Iran, having finished runners-up in a qualifying group which included Portugal and Holland.

However, the Keane row marred Ireland's build-up to the World Cup, although draws against Germany and Cameroon and a win over Saudi Arabia set up a second round date with Spain.

McCarthy was unable to match Charlton's achievement of guiding the Irish into the World Cup quarter-finals after a heart-breaking penalty shoot-out defeat by Spain.