DUBLIN: Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has been given a vote of confidence by the FAI despite Saturday’s surprise home defeat by Luxembourg.

The Republic’s World Cup qualifying campaign is virtually over after it had barely begun after defeats by Serbia by 3-2 and the Grand Duchy by 1-0.

Kenny succeeded Mick McCarthy as manager in April and has to record a victory in his 10 matches in charge.

FAI chairman Roy Barrett said: “Stephen has my full support and I hope he’s absolutely going to be here for this campaign. I hope he’ll be here for other campaigns, but we’ll see how things go.”

Sacking Kenny and paying up his contract would be a challenge for the FAI which is still mired in financial problems after the fall-out from the controversial reign of former ceo John Delaney.

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