The Official website says that we are about to say goodbye to Steve Staunton.

Roy Whalley has been in talks with representatives of the Football Association of Ireland about releasing Staunton from his contract in order for him to take over as the national team Manager.

An “amicable settlement” has been agreed which leaves the way open for Steve Staunton to take the job.

“My discussions with John Delaney were very amicable and we are very pleased with the way in which the FAI have dealt with this issue,” said Whalley. “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Steve Staunton when he is officially given the post and wish him and the FAI every success for the future”.

The club have denied the reported figure of £60,000 compensation for his release and the BBC are now saying that the figure is close to “£20,000″.

It looks as if one of the strikers Merson is interested in is, indeed, as had been rumoured on the messageboard, Sheffield Wednesday’s Lee Peacock.

Merson, in an interview on WM, he is close to tying up a deal with an unknown striker.

He added “He is trying to get a package from his current Sheffield club”, before covering himslef and changing it to “He is trying to get a deal sorted with his club before making his move permanent”.

Peacock has been told by Sturrock that he is not wanted at Wednesday.

Peacock is 29, 6 foot and has a career record of League Starts 304 (65 sub) 100 goals, plus 56 cup starts (all competitions) and 16 goals.

As we revealed on this site yesterday, Paul Merson has now admitted his interest in Chester City’s Ryan Lowe. But Lowe isn’t the only player at the club he wants!

With striker Matty Fryatt and defender Julian Bennett having been sold to Leicester and Nottingham Forest respectively - for reported combined fees totaling an initial £450,000 - Merson is now in the market for new recruits.

Merson confessed Chester striker Lowe and midfielder Ben Davies were on his shopping list after missing out on Jon Parkin, who has joined Hull from Macclesfield.

He said: “Ben Davies’ agent phoned me up and I said he would be a player I’d be interested in - and I’m interested in Ryan Lowe too.

His quote about Parkin, however, is interesting, in view of his comments on WM about getting some of the cash from the Fryatt and Bennett sales:-

“But the thing about the boy Parkin is Macclesfield had already turned down a £50,000 bid from one club and they were then offered £75,000 which was too much for us. I know he’s earning more than any of my lads here.”