Diego Maradona will no longer continue as Argentina coach after the national FA's executive committee unanimously agreed not to renew his contract.

Maradona met with the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) president Julio Grondona yesterday in a bid to resolve his future, with reports suggesting a new four-year deal was on the table. The 49-year-old had said he would sign the contract as long as his entire backroom staff were retained.

Grondona revealed details of the talks to his board today and AFA have confirmed they have decided not to renew Maradona's contract. "The president of the Argentinian Football Association, Mr Julio Grondona, made the members of the executive committee aware of the conversation with Mr Diego Maradona, setting out the points which had come out from the meeting," said a brief statement on AFA's website. "The executive committee unanimously resolved not to renew the contract with Mr Diego Maradona as coach of the Argentina national football team."

Maradona said he would no longer coach Argentina after they were eliminated from the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ by Germany at the quarter-final stage, but yesterday morning revealed he was keen to sign a new contract, as long as he was allowed to retain his entire backroom staff.

The executive committee unanimously resolved not to renew the contract with Mr Diego Maradona as coach of the Argentina national football team.
AFA official statement

Argentina's next game is a friendly against Ireland on 11 August in Dublin, and current Under-20 boss Sergio Batista has been placed in temporary charge for that fixture. The interim appointment led Argentina to gold at the 2008 Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing.

AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo added that they hope to have a new full-time coach installed shortly. He said: "Maradona's requirements were very far from the FA's possibilities. For the match against Spain, scheduled for September 7th, we may already have the new coach."

Cherquis Bialo claimed yesterday that the AFA do not yet have a shortlist of replacements from which to choose Maradona's successor. However, Alejandro Sabella, who led Estudiantes to victory in the Copa Libertadores last season and has just renewed his contract with them, is favourite for the job. Sabella was Daniel Passarella's assistant coach at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Batista will lead Argentina in their match against the Republic of Ireland with a squad which was picked by Maradona and contains 17 of the 23-man 2010 FIFA World Cup group. Newcastle United defender Fabricio Coloccini, Manchester City's Pablo Zabaleta and Liverpool wing-back Emiliano Insua all return to the Albiceleste.

Midfielders Fernando Gago, Jesus Datolo and Ever Banega, and forward Ezequiel Lavezzi are also back after missing out on the FIFA World Cup. Argentinian stars such as Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano and Maximiliano Rodriguez are all in the squad for the first match to be played at the new Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Argentina squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar/Netherlands), Mariano Andujar (Catania/Italy)

Defenders: Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich/Germany), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan/Italy), Nicolas Burdisso (Roma/Italy), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille/France), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle/England), Emiliano Insua (Liverpool/England), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City/England)

Midfielders: Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid/Spain), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool/England), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool/England), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle/England), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina/Italy), Javier Pastore (Palermo/Italy), Jesus Datolo (Espanyol/Spain), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid/Spain), Ever Banega (Valencia/Spain)

Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid/Spain), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City/England), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid/Spain), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Spain), Diego Milito (Inter Milan/Italy), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli/Italy)