Friday's meeting of the FAI's board of management broke up without any verdict being announced on the controversy over Mick McCarthy's �100,000 bonus payment.

A row erupted over the payment when it was alleged an senior FAI official had encouraged the then Republic manager McCarthy to seek the extra cash.

At the time, during the World Cup finals, McCarthy had already agreed a two-year extension to his contract but had not signed it.

The allegations were put to the official concerned on Friday and he is expected to make a considered response when the board reconvenes in two weeks' time.

Meanwhile, the announcement of McCarthy's successor as Republic manager is not expected until next week.

What is being implied is that after saying that the deal was done, I withheld McCarthy's signature Mick McCarthy's agent Liam Gaskin

However, Menton said the deal had been held up because of a problem arising over McCarthy's separate boot sponsorship.

If proved, the latest allegations would clear Menton of any blame in the affair and the former FAI general secretary is understood to have given a sworn statement on the matter in recent days.

Mick McCarthy's agent Liam Gaskin has threatened to take legal action if he does not receive an apology over the affair.

"What is being implied is that after saying that the deal was done, I withheld his (McCarthy's) signature until I got the sum of money from them," Gaskin told the Irish Times.