Carla Ward: 'if Colin Healy was in the building he would have been considered...but he wasn't'

Meanwhile, Ward and the Irish women open their Uefa Nations League campaign against Turkey at Tallaght on Friday week, followed by a trip to face Slovenia in Koper four days later

Head coach Carla Ward during a Republic of Ireland women squad announcement press conference.

New Ireland women’s team boss Carla Ward insists she didn’t have the option of offering Colin Healy a place on her staff because the Corkman “wasn’t in the building”.

Former Ireland midfielder Healy worked as assistant to Ward’s predecessor Eileen Gleeson and is adamant a promise of continuity in the job was guaranteed by the FAI.

Their chief football officer Marc Canham denies any “absolute guarantees” were provided, insisting the decision always hinged on the outcome of the Euro playoff against Wales, which Ireland lost 3-2 on aggregate.

Healy explained he’d rejected the Cobh Ramblers vacancy – and the opportunity of working close to his two children who’d lost their mother Kelly – due to what he perceives as a broken promise. He had lodged a formal complaint with the FAI’s HR director.

The fact vice-captain and centurion Denise O’Sullivan has accused the FAI of disrespectful treatment that “lacked class and compassion” in their handling of her fellow Leesider’s exit overshadowed the announcement of Ward’s first squad yesterday.

Ward left open a slot on her backroom team when unveiled last month but rather than extend an olive branch to the unemployed coach popular with players, she earlier this week enlisted Liverpool coach Amber Whiteley to work with fellow assistant Alan Mahon.

"It was done and dusted before I came in so it was not something on my radar,” former Aston Villa and Birmingham City manager Ward said about Healy.

"It wasn't an option to consider him because he was gone from the organisation before I came in."

When it was suggested he be invited back into the fold, she replied: "All I will say on it, if he was in the building would he be considered? Yes. But he wasn't in the building."

“I didn't make that decision myself. I came in and it was all taken care of.

"Look, we know football, right? When people move on it is not about twisting the arm to bring people back. It is not like that. I came in and understood who I could bring in and we recruited those people and that was it."

Denise O'Sullivan accused the FAI of disrespectful treatment that “lacked class and compassion” in their handling of Healy's exit.

While that saga rumbles on, Ward will meet her players collectively for the first time on Sunday at the Castleknock Hotel. They open their Uefa Nations League campaign against Turkey at Tallaght on Friday week, followed by a trip to face Slovenia in Koper four days later.

As the team ranked 25th in the world, up against Slovenia (39), Greece (58) and Turkey (60), Ireland will be expected to replicate Gleeson’s feat from late 2023 of topping the pool to make a swift return to League A. That should, theoretically, make their path to a potential second World Cup in a row, Brazil’s 2007 version, that bit easier.

One or all of defenders Niamh Fahey, Diane Caldwell and attacker Julie-Ann Russell could revisit the camp in mentoring roles next week but Ward anticipates Louise Quinn won’t be joining them in international retirement once her hip flexor injury clears. Jess Ziu and Lily Agg (ACL), Tara O’Hanlon (knee), Jamie Finn (return to play from ACL) are also missing but Ruesha Littlejohn is there, despite being one of three players without a club.

“She’s not considering retirement - she probably did question it and I said ‘don’t you dare yet!’” Ward said of the midfielder she’s previous experience of managing. “I understand Ruesha probably better than a lot of people do. I knew her (achilles) injury a lot and I massively helped her before the World Cup to ensure that she was ready for that. I understand what her loading is like because that is very different.

“Ruesha is someone that you need to have in your dressing-room. She was huge for me at Birmingham and Villa and I’m sure she will be here as well.” 

Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: C Brosnan (Everton), S Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), G Moloney (Unattached).

Defenders: H Payne (Everton), J Stapleton (Sunderland – on loan from West Ham United), A Patten (Aston Villa), A Mannion (Manchester United), C Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), M Campbell (London City Lionesses), K McCabe (Arsenal).

Midfielders: D O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), M Connolly (Lazio), T Toland (Blackburn Rovers), R Littlejohn (Unattached), M Sheva (Unattached), M Filis (Charlton Athletic).

Forwards: L Kiernan (Liverpool), K Carusa (San Diego Wave), A Larkin (Crystal Palace), A Barrett (Standard Liege), I Atkinson (Crystal Palace), L Quinn (Birmingham City), E Murphy (Newcastle United).