Carla Ward’s unveiling as Republic of Ireland’s new head coach has been overshadowed by a row over the country’s former assistant manager.
Ex-Aston Villa boss Ward was presented at a press conference at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday afternoon, but proceedings were dominated by questions over the departure of predecessor Eileen Gleeson’s number two Colin Healy after he accused the Football Association of Ireland of a lack of “transparency and compassion”.
The 44-year-old has indicated he will make a formal complaint after claiming the FAI’s chief football officer Marc Canham had given him the impression that his contract would be extended despite Ireland’s failure to qualify for Euro 2025, prompting him to turn down an opportunity to take over as boss of Cobh Ramblers in November.
It’s a new day.
Introducing our Women’s National Team Head Coach, Carla Ward ☘️ pic.twitter.com/QCTwd6q0CL
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) January 15, 2025
However, speaking at the press conference, Canham said: “We didn’t give Colin any absolute guarantees.
“The decision we made not to renew Eileen’s contract was purely a football decision, and that was the same with Colin’s, so it was a football decision.”
The FAI revealed last month that Gleeson’s contract would not be renewed following a review after a play-off defeat by Wales, and Healy’s tenure too ended with that decision.
Chief executive David Courell revealed there was a possibility Healy, whose wife Kelly died in April last year, could have returned as part of the new head coach’s staff, but insisted he had offered no guarantees in a text message to him.
Courell said: “In terms of the exchange that I had with Colin, it was very clear that Colin’s contract had not been renewed. It couldn’t have been any clearer.
“We were always open to whoever was appointed as head coach considering Colin as a number two, but it’s always most important for the head coach to have that choice and that opportunity to appoint their own number two.”
Healy had earlier outlined his grievances in a lengthy statement posted on social media.
He wrote: “I feel the treatment I received lacked transparency and compassion, and that there was a total disregard shown toward my welfare as an employee – a reality that now sees me out of work, and affects my ability to provide for my children.”
Thrust into the midst of the controversy, Ward outlined her intention to take Ireland to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil after playing her part in the United States’ Olympic triumph under head coach Emma Hayes.
Asked if she had spoken to Hayes before accepting the job, she said: “Emma has been an unbelievable mentor, like a big sister to me for quite some time now and somebody I’ve leaned on in a lot of moments in my career, and she’s guided, she’s helped me, so yes, we had a conversation.
“She was probably the one person that knew throughout the whole process, obviously somebody that guided me and gave me some very good advice, particularly ahead of the last interview, so yes, she’s been unbelievable for me and I can’t thank her enough.”