Trapattoni and Venables are regarded as leading contenders

Trapattoni is now understood to be the Football Association of Ireland's first choice for the manager's post vacated by Steve Staunton last October.

"His contract finishes at the end of the season," FC Salzburg spokesman Thomas Blazek told the BBC on Monday.

"He will be fulfilling his contract. After that, we will see what happens."

The FC Salzburg official added that Trapattoni had assured the club that he would honour his contract.

"We are just concentrating on the winning of the (Austrian) title for the second time in a row," added Blazek.

"That's what Trapattoni wants and nothing else. There is nothing else to say at this time."

On the face of it, that wouldn't rule the Italian out of contention for the Republic job because the Irish do not have a competitive fixture until their opening World Cup qualifier against Georgia on 6 September.

At the moment, the Republic are scheduled to play only three games before the World Cup qualifiers.

After Wednesday's friendly against Brazil, they face Serbia at Croke Park on 26 May and will take on Norway in Oslo in August.

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However, if Trapattoni insisted on seeing out his contract with the current Austrian League champions, then the FAI would have to decide whether they were happy to leave Don Givens in caretaker charge until the summer.

On Sunday night, the selection panel set up to recruit a new Republic boss said that it needed another 10 days to complete its work.

Don Givens, Don Howe and Ray Houghton are expected to hold further discussions with Trapattoni to ascertain his position but the job appears to be the Italian's if he wants it.

Terry Venables remains in contention although he is believed to be unhappy at the length of the process.

There may also be a concern that Trapattoni speaks very little English although this issue didn't stop Fabio Capello being appointed England boss.

The 68-year-old has a wealth of experience having coached AC Milan, Inter Milan, Fiorentina, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Benfica.