Niall Quinn believes the final verdict on Heimir Hallgrimsson's reign as Ireland manager needs to be put on ice until after this week's final two World Cup qualifiers, insisting failure to reach next year's finals should not automatically trigger his exit.

Hallgrimsson looks set to be axed by the FAI if he fails to lead Ireland to next summer's World Cup finals, with Ireland needing a draw against Portugal at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday night to keep fading qualification hopes alive.