Givens keen to step aside

Ireland new boy Glen Crowe is chased by Dabizas

Caretaker manager Don Givens said the Republic of Ireland should appoint a new coach "sooner rather than later" after Wednesday's goalless draw against Greece.

Under-21 coach Givens was put in temporary charge of the team while the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) seeks a successor to Mick McCarthy.

Match report: Greece 0-0 Ireland

It hopes to its new man in place before the next international, a friendly against Scotland in February.

It was a professional performance

Don Givens

"It is important that a new manager is appointed sooner rather than later," said Givens.

"All the boys are wondering what is going to happen and they will be reading the papers in the next few weeks with all the speculation."

Givens had stressed the need for a good result after Ireland suffered successive defeats in their opening two Euro 2004 Group 10 qualifying matches.

And he was satisfied with the outcome, especially as he was forced to field an under-strength team.

"Avoiding defeat was paramount for us," Givens added.

"I would have liked to win but I am delighted not to have been beaten, it was a professional performance from the boys.

Don Givens was satisfied with the draw

"There were a lot of plusses. Richard Dunne performed very well at left-back and John O'Shea looked good for someone who is early in his international career.

"The new boys did well and Glen Crowe was excellent in the first half - he did not look out of his depth."

Spectators in the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, the home of Panathinaikos, were embarrassingly sparse while the pitch was in a poor state.

But Givens felt the lack of atmosphere did his team a favour.

"The small crowd worked to our advantage and I would have been more worried if the stadium had been packed, because that always lifts the home team."