Former Republic of Ireland international Andy Townsend believes the problems facing Irish football should not lay at the feet of Martin O’Neill and that big changes are needed in the game in the country.

Ireland slumped to 1-0 defeat to Wales on Tuesday night at the Aviva Stadium and face the prospect of relegation in the UEFA Nations League after a disasterous 12 months.

Townsend feels that there should be a focus on the governance of Irish football.

He told RTÉ 2fm’s Game On: "There needs to be a regime change at the very top of Irish football. That is the area that needs to change; the powers that be that run our game here. Clearly there has to be a different mindset coming from those people.

"That will ultimately take time to develop and time to implement.

"Whether indeed it ever happens, because that is a boys club. It's a job for the boys that run the game here. If you try to get rid of any of them, you are doing well.

"All I know is when I look at David Brooks, Harry Wilson, and some of those [for Wales], it shows there are other nations able to produce and find players.

"There will be some that argue that we don't integrate them fast enough into the senior team in order to develop them."

The FAI said they wouldn't comment Townsend's claims.

The former captain added that he doesn't think removing O’Neill from his position would guarantee a positive change and the lack of quality in attack is holding back Ireland.

"That's not a performance from a team lacking any courage, heart or commitment. They gave everything. We don't have enough at the top end of the field. Honestly, in world football, you have people paid fortunes to make the difference in the top third of the field. That is what usually happens.

"When we talk about the very best players playing Premier League or international football, the best make the difference . We have nothing in that area. With the greatest of respects, we have a lot of guys who are prepared to give their all, effort, but not one of them looks like they have a goal in them.

"If we had something in the top third, we would always have a chance to win more games.

"With this particular group, there isn't anything there. I hear what is being said but my own opinion is you can change the coach, you can change him every six months, but you're not going to change those boys into goalscorers."

The decision to play full-back Cyrus Christie in a midfield role has been severely criticised but again Townsend thinks such scrutiny will materialise when there is such a lack of goals in the team.

"You'd have to ask Martin [why he plays Christie there].

"Cyrus, to be honest, gave everything. He didn't look completely out of sorts. The one time we had a good chance in the first half was the one time you wanted a midfield player on the end of that.

"Martin will have a reason [for playing him there], he'll tell you that. In tight football matches and that was one, Wales weren't great, but they scored first.

"Once they scored they then looked like a dangerous outfit and probably should have won by maybe another goal. In a tight game on your own patch, you need to have more in the top third and the truth is we have guys that don't even play for Championship teams.

"We're looking at them and hoping they will make the difference. They are not up to it, it's simple. If we had pace, confidence and a little bit more ability and at the top end of the field, I think we could get in front in a game.

"At the moment we don't look like we can score. We're not playing with any confidence. But I do feel we have to be realistic of what our boys are capable of here. I didn't think that was a performance of a team that isn't playing for the manager."