Vera Pauw 'angry' at Diane Caldwell's comments and 'disappointed' with Eileen Gleeson

Speaking to the Second Captains’ Episode with Richie Sadlier, Pauw has broken her silence on the controversial end to her reign as Ireland Women's National Team manager.

BREAKING SILENCE: Vera Pauw has spoked about the controversial end to her reign as Ireland manager. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Vera Pauw has hit back at comments made by Diane Caldwell last September in which the Ireland defender claimed their success in reaching a first ever World Cup was achieved “in spite" of their manager.

The former Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team manager was relieved of her duties just three weeks after the Girls in Green’s first appearance at a major tournament ended at the group-stage.

The FAI listened to feedback from their players and decided against offering the Dutchwoman a new contract, instead opting to appoint Eileen Gleeson on an interim basis which has since been made permanent.

“From my position as a pretty experienced player, I don’t think it was up to the standard that’s expected at international level,” Caldwell said of Pauw’s coaching methods.

“The results and performances that we got were in spite of Vera being our coach. We approached her many times about professionalising many aspects but it was hard to get change.

“They (the FAI) have listened to the stakeholders in this team. These girls are good but we can actually be getting more out of them and performing at a higher level and achieving more success than what they have been.”

And speaking to the Second Captains’ Episode with Richie Sadlier, Pauw has responded to those sentiments made by the Ireland centurion.

“Where in men's football would a player be given be given the opportunity, who's only played so few minutes (for their club), to go to the World Cup and be apart of it?," began Pauw.

“In our conversations, all the other technical staff members wanted to put her on the table as a discussion point.

“I have said Diane Caldwell is NOT a discussion point. So I protected her and she does this to me. I was angry, I was destroyed, I was probably everything that she wanted me to feel.”

Asked by Sadlier how would she have reacted if a player in her squad spoke about her predecessor in that way to the media, Pauw continued; “I would have said you can go up to your room, pack your bag and leave the camp.

Is she, therefore, disappointed with Eileen Gleeson’s role?

“I’m disappointed because two weeks earlier we said nothing comes between us. I said we love each other. We spoke it out; 'nothing comes between us'.

“And the first thing she says is Diane has the right to say things because everybody can have an open opinion.

"But this is not a true opinion. Why would somebody do that (be so critical) if you go to the World Cup as a very small nation, if you have astonished the world - the football world. Last week I still got the compliments 'how on earth did you do that?'

"Really, those words. If I planned the success, controlling the steps that we make and the steps that we have to make, how to be ready and playing those games, that is not up to the player to judge that.

"Because we played our best games, we played far above the level that anyone ever expected from us, so what do you want?

"There's no team that started the World Cup like we did. All the other debutants - also the big teams - had problems, they had to grow into the tournament, we were there immediately.

"But how? That is not because of a coach that is not doing anything. I had two sides, one side I felt sorry for her that she needed this and on the other side everybody sees this.

"Five times I became coach of the year. Do you think this is because of my nice glasses or something?"

Pauw also admitted that she felt her time in charge of Ireland was over before the finals in Australia even began as some of her players and staff at the FAI began to undermine her authority.

Pauw believes trust broke down following a report in The Athletic about her time in charge of Houston Dash based on anonymous allegations of excessive control over her players, that she strongly denies, but which led to FAI CEO Jonathan Hill holding meetings with players regularly before they departed.

When asked whether she knew she would not be offered a new contract prior to the World Cup she said: "Yes".

"Because of the way Jonathan Hill was treating the situation, talking with players, meeting with players, instigating an atmosphere that is not part of top sport."

Pauw also referred to an incident when two players turned up to a team meeting wearing Adidas and Puma gear respectively and took exception when they were told they needed to wear Castore, who were Ireland’s contracted sponsors.