Howard Wells was axed from his chief executive job on Monday

The Irish Football Association Executive has backed the decision to sack chief executive Howard Wells.

At its meeting on Thursday it was also decided that IFA president Raymond Kennedy will continue as acting chief executive of the governing body.

"The management arrangements announced on Monday will remain in place for as long as necessary," said the IFA.

"The president and the Board will continue to oversee the day to day running of the Association."

It was believed that an interim chief executive to succeed Wells would be appointed at the meeting.

One of the options open to the organisation is for Kennedy to remain in the position as a temporary measure and it is expected that the interim successor will come from within the existing IFA structure.

The re-introduction of a General Secretary is believed to be under consideration as it would involve paying a smaller salary, an option which may be looked on favourably as the organisation is understood to be around �300,000 in debt.

A brief statement from the Irish FA on Monday said that it had "terminated" the chief executive's employment in the "best interests of the association".

The matter is in the hands of my legal advisors. Howard Wells

It was revealed in August that Wells had taken a grievance case against his employer.

Wells claimed he had been treated unfairly because he was English and there was also a dispute over an unpaid �30,000 bonus payment.

Mr Wells named two individuals in his complaint, one of them IFA president Kennedy, who has said that he will be acting as interim chief executive.

When contacted after Monday's IFA announcement, Wells said that "the matter is in the hands of my legal advisors and that is all I'm saying".

Wells, who was appointed by the IFA in November 2004, is understood to have earned in the region of �100,000 per annum.

Kennedy later told the BBC that he was reluctant to comment further on the issue "in case there are further implications".

He added that no financial settlement had been reached with the sacked chief executive.

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