Outspoken Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has said that if he gets control of Aer Lingus he will sack its board members, all except chairman Colm Barrington.

O'Leary has issued an invitation to Barrington to join the board of Ryanair Holdings as part of his €748 million bid to buy out Aer Lingus.

But, in a no-holds-barred interview, O'Leary told the Sunday Independent that he will have no use for most of the other Aer Lingus board members.

He described most of the Aer Lingus board as "useless" and said they should "be taken out and shot."

His outburst came just 24 hours after he told Pat Kenny on RTE television's "Late, Late Show" that it would be "unfair" to call the government incompetent because the whole world faces unprecedented problems.

That diplomatic response, a rare reaction by O'Leary when asked to comment on the government, was seen within the aviation industry as proof that he is determined to win the support of ministers for his Aer Lingus bid.

He was equally understanding of the government's difficulties when asked a similar question by the Sunday Independent.

"The government is dealing with a set of circumstances that are unprecedented, as are the other European governments. The thing is, other European governments are coming up with stimulus packages. This government will have to do the same. But you can't keep borrowing money," he said.

In his Kenny interview, O'Leary admitted that he had made mistakes with his first Aer Lingus bid in 2006 and he has gone out of his way to learn from them.

The Aer Lingus board continues to resist his advances, arguing that it can have a better future as a small independent carrier in an increasingly consolidated European industry. Opposition from the trade unions also appears implacable.

But O'Leary is known to take heart from the fact that the government has not categorically ruled out his bid - unlike its attitude two years ago when he offered twice as much for Aer Lingus.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has said that the government will wait to see the formal offer document before making a decision.

Meanwhile, Aer Lingus staff have voted in favor of a series of cost-cutting measures aimed at saving more than €50 million in costs. The package will see 200 staff members leaving the company and not being replaced, lower pay and new work practices.