By Lyle Jackson BBC Sport

Southampton's Chris Baird broke into the NI team during 2003

The boys in green went through their eight matches in 2003 without hitting the net and ultimately it was too much for boss Sammy McIlroy to bear.

After finishing bottom of their European Championship qualifying group, McIlroy opted to return to the club scene and joined Stockport County.

McIlroy, who had been boss since January 2000, endured a series of setbacks during 2003.

But he still had the backing of the Irish Football Association who had granted him an extension of his contract.

The year started with a February friendly against Finland at a fog-bound Windsor Park in Belfast.

For a while, it was possible the game could be called off but it went ahead and the Finns won 1-0.

In March McIlroy's men travelled to Armenia hoping to get their first win in the European campaign.

Miserable night

It looked like they would have to settle for a draw but a late goal from Artur Petrosian broke NI hearts and they left Yerevan with nothing to show.

Four days later they were at home to eventual group winners Greece and it was another miserable night for Northern Ireland.

Apparently upset at Greek tactics, some of McIlroy's side lost their discipline. They finished 2-0 losers and with nine men having had James Quinn and Keith Gillespie sent-off.

In June, NI lost 2-0 to Italy in a disaster fund-raising game but McIlroy was heartened by the performances of some emerging young players.

That was followed a week later by a spirited 0-0 draw at home to Spain in a European Championship qualifier, a big setback to the Spaniards who were trying to overhaul leaders Greece.

Northern Ireland then pulled off another scoreless draw, this time away to Ukraine, and again it was viewed as an encouraging result.

Goal drought

But, just when things seemed to be looking up for McIlroy and his men, they suffered their worst result of the year, losing 1-0 at home to Armenia.

It was a depressing night at Widnsor, everyone had felt this was the game in which Northern Ireland would finally end their infamous goal drought.

They failed to score for the 13th consecutive game when they lost 1-0 to a penalty in their final qualifier in October.

Shortly afterwards, McIlroy was off to Stockport and the Irish FA were looking for a new man.

His old NI and Manchester United team-mate Jmmy Nicholl is favourite to succed McIlroy.