Eileen Gleeson goes on the attack over home-based gap
FRONT FOOT: Ireland head coach Eileen Gleeson lost patience with questions on the Athlone Town boss. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Fifteen months on from Katie McCabe signing off her press conference with a sarcastic remark, Eileen Gleeson did likewise on Thursday.
Maybe it was inevitable given both situations were identical; Ireland women’s gigs overshadowed by off-field controversy.
“It’s been a pleasure talking about the World Cup guys; I really appreciate it, thank you,” McCabe said in a parting shot after the top-table questions were dominated by queries on historical allegations against Vera Pauw.
McCabe later apologised for her petulance but nobody is holding their breath for one from Pauw’s successor.
“Glad you asked lots about the playoffs,” quipped Gleeson at the end of testing exchanges with media at FAI HQ.
She was present to unveil her squad for the Euro semi-final playoff against Georgia but the minutiae of tackling the nation sitting 118th in Fifa’s rankings – whom they recorded an aggregate 20-0 win over in World Cup qualifiers – were secondary to a problem of her own making.
See, the manager of the national team, based in Ireland and whose background is in the domestic league, doesn’t feel it’s her job to contact club managers.
The one of the 11 in the top-flight who guided his team to the title, Ciarán Kilduff, is perplexed at the snub – extending his angst to head of women’s football, Hannah Dingley.
He’d like to know why the home-based sessions – an outlet for Gleeson’s predecessors Colin Bell and Vera Pauw to assess and monitor local players – are no longer in place for members of his Athlone Town squad and others.
Kilduff’s captain Laurie Ryan confirmed the abolition of the HBS was a talking point among players and other managers have echoed their bemusement at such a practical and inexpensive exercise being culled.
Denying the call-up of Athlone goalkeeper Katie Keane was a consequence of Kilduff’s public frustrations, Gleeson not only defended her approach but rounded on the critics.
“The same people that were annihilating home-based sessions when they were on are exalting them now,” she claimed.
“I don’t think there's a disconnect between the FAI and clubs. To say we’re not in contact with anyone at clubs is misrepresenting.
“I would actively encourage, if a manager wants to actively promote the player, then please feel free to do it.
“The same way club managers who win the English and US leagues do (but) I’m not ringing them. I’m not ringing them.”
Clearly exasperated by the focus of this issue, Gleeson added: "Well you should have brought Ciarán in today. This is the squad announcement so I’m done talking about Ciarán Kilduff.”
That would be an acceptable excuse if there was an alternative to the ditched home-based sessions in place to motivate players staying at home.
All that’s been broached is the potential addition of an U23 squad – mirroring that of England and Scotland – yet there was no timeline nor budget confirmation forthcoming.
“The home-based sessions in principle did a role for when it was on and then it started to lose the role for developing players and engaging players with potential to go to the seniors,” explained Gleeson, whose side will face either Slovakia or Wales for a place at next year’s Euros, should they complete the formality against the lowly Georgians.
"Essentially that was one session per month. We believe we can be better in terms of talent management, much more specific with our high-potential players.
“Nobody is disagreeing that we need an U23s and to capture players after they’re finished with the U19s.
“I’ve been the biggest advocate of that and we all know where the gaps are. It is currently being developed and there’s no finite timeline. There is a plan but I can’t give you any details.”
If – and the FAI’s parlous finances risk it staying as an if, not when – an U23s is added, it won’t be exclusively for Irish-based talent. There’s also the anomaly of it restricting players by age.
“U23s is not an alternative to home-based sessions,” Gleeson asserted. “It is a talent management and exposure to international football, so take the home-based sessions out of the correlation. It is not about replacing it.
“Winning League of Ireland doesn't mean an immediate call-up to senior international football. The league has moved on over the years but it’s still essentially an amateur league.
“International is elite level. League of Ireland players are in direct competition with those in professional and full-time environments. But we can’t have an U25s - do you get it?”
You’d have to wonder if the person in charge does.
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