The Republic of Ireland are already looking towards the Euro 2016 finals as they launch a search for a new manager.
Giovanni Trapattoni and the Football Association of Ireland parted company after five and a half years on Wednesday with qualification for next summer's World Cup finals in Brazil no longer a realistic possibility.
However, as chief executive John Delaney prepared to instigate the recruitment process, he indicated that the successful candidate will be asked to build upon the foundations laid by the Italian with a view to securing a swift return to the big stage.
Delaney told Newstalk: "I think he [Trapattoni] felt he had done a good job. When he first came, we hadn't qualified for a major tournament for a long time.
"He genuinely believes there's a group of young players available to the next manager. Most people in Irish football would agree he's left Irish football in a better state.
"It has been a tough campaign, today is an emotional day, but the work begins from today to get to the 2016 Euros.
"We will look at the process for a new manager because there are good young players who want to get to a major tournament."
One of those youngsters is 24-year-old Everton full-back Seamus Coleman, who admitted Ireland's failure to make the finals had hit him particularly hard after he missed out on selection for the Euro 2012 finals.
He said: "As professional footballers at the standard some of us are at, we want to be qualifying.
"The lads qualified for the European Championship, we want to be qualifying for major championships.
Source: PA
