Colin Healy escalates grievance with FAI over exit

Assistant coach Colin Healy during a Republic of Ireland Women's training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Colin Healy has escalated his grievance with the FAI over their handling of his exit to President Paul Cooke and the associationâs board.
Irelandâs December Womenâs Euro playoff defeat to Wales prompted the FAI not to renew the contracts of manager Eileen Gleeson and her assistant Healy but controversy has since erupted over the chain of events before and after the axing eight days on from the second leg.
Former Ireland midfielder Healy claimed he only rejected the Cobh Ramblers vacancy prior to the playoff â an opportunity of returning to club football â on account of being assured of his continuity in the FAI post.
Any suggestion of broken promises was denied by the organisationâs chief football Marc Canham, who insisted there was no âabsolute guarantee given to Colinâ of his contract being extended.
Although Canham was adamant his recommendation to the board for a change of manager occurred after a thorough review with staff and players, the extent of Healyâs interaction with him was a phonecall.
There was further confusion when Healy received a text message from FAI chief executive David Courell giving the impression the coach left of his own volition to accept another offer.
This was tabled at the time by another League of Ireland club, Kerry FC.
Although Courell indicated the FAI would have welcomed the chance of working with Healy again, Gleesonâs successor Carla Ward confirmed this week she was precluded from enlisting him.
She had named Alan Mahon as her assistant and added a second last week, Liverpool coach Amber Whiteley, ahead of the Uefa Nations League campaign kicking off on Friday against Turkey at Tallaght Stadium.
Ward said: âI didn't make that decision myself. I came in and it was all taken care of.
"It wasn't an option to consider him because he was gone from the organisation before I came in."
âIf he (Healy) was in the building would he be considered? Yes. But he wasn't in the building."
Healy was employed on a fixed-term contract, a form of employment covered by legislation. He wasnât offered to apply for a post on Wardâs backroom team nor were there places publicly advertised.
The Cork native is renowned for his aversion to the spotlight but felt compelled to set the record straight. The day after being released, his agency Integrity Sports issued a statement on his behalf before a longer, detailed account from himself emerged two hours before Wardâs unveiling last month.
In it, he accused the FAI of lacking âtransparency and compassionâ, detailing how 2024 was the âtoughest of his lifeâ due to the impact his wife Kellyâs passing had on himself and their two children.
Healy also highlighted how the FAIâs public campaign to treat people with âwelfare and dignityâ was at odds with their treatment of him and urged an investigation to prevent others similarly suffering.
The statement also contained an intention to lodge a complaint with the FAIâs HR director. Itâs understood Healy accepted an invitation to meet with Aoife Raffety, the FAIâs people and culture director, but his camp hold no confidence about this route and so have elevated their concerns to the next level.
Itâs understood correspondence to the FAI board, which now number 14 including independent directors, was sent a week ago but no reply has been forthcoming.
Significantly, Healy has received support for the squad, a few publicly and several privately.
Denise OâSullivan, an Ireland centurion and vice-captain, has been the most vociferous, branding her fellow Leesider âas the most honest, genuine person in football - not to mention a great coach.â She later added: "I love playing for Ireland but I think this is a step backwards. It left a bad taste in my mouth, the way that happened.
âItâs a personâs welfare. It affects their family and, when that happens, I need to speak about it.
"I canât just stay quiet and thatâs why I have voiced my opinion on that. I would be disappointed in myself if I didnât speak up. It was handled really poorly in my opinion."Â