Roy Millar's will continue as coach to NI U21 side

The Irish Football Association has pulled the NI under-21 team out of the 2008 European Championships because of cost.

IFA delegates rubber-stamped a finance committee's decision on Monday evening to block the under-21 side entering the tournament.

But IFA President Jim Boyce has re-iterated that the side will continue to play under coach Roy Millar with a budget set aside for under-21 games and 'B' internationals.

''There is no question of scraping the under-21 format,'' said Boyce. ''The decision is for the next European Championships, and nothing else. It is all about finance.

''Roy Millar's position was not discussed. He is still manager of the side.

''The decision not to play in the next championships is no reflection on him. Even if Alex Ferguson had been manager, it would have been the same.''

The cost of the qualifying tournament for the European Championship is believed to be around �50,000 a game, and nearly half a million pounds in total for the tournament.

Last week the Roy Millar's side chalked up their first competitive victory in 35 months with a 3-1 victory over Armenia 3-1.