FAI treatment of Colin Healy, 'hurt a lot of the players' says Katie McCabe

The Ireland skipper says she didn't contribute to the review of the previous management's time. 

FACING UP: Katie McCabe during a Republic of Ireland women's press conference at the FAI Headquarters in Abbotstown. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The FAI didn’t get to speak with their women’s team captain as part of the review that led to Eileen Gleeson and Colin Healy being let go in December.

A recommendation by chief football officer Marc Canham not to renew managerial contracts was ratified by the FAI board following a review in the aftermath of their Euro playoff defeat to Wales.

“The staff and players were involved in that review,” said Canham, denying any “absolute guarantees” were provided to Healy, directly contradicting the coach’s version of events.

Now it transpires that this review didn’t entail any feedback from Katie McCabe.

The skipper yesterday echoed criticism by her teammates Denise O’Sullivan, Caitlin Hayes and Aoife Mannon when asked for her opinion about the episode that continues to cause intrigue.

“Do I agree with how the process went? No,” she said.

“I think they need to review those processes within the FAI and how they can do it better, because ultimately it wasn’t good enough.

“For Colin to be so outspoken, it’s out of his character, because he is such a quiet man who we all respected so much.

“He’s such a genuinely honest, passionate guy who loved representing his country from a coaching point of view. We learnt so much from him over the 18 months, as well as Eileen.

“So, seeing that sort of treatment and what was said in his statement, hurt a lot of the players.

“Having spoken to Colin as well personally - yeah, I was disappointed.” 

McCabe did offer input – but only after the axing came on December 11.

“I wasn’t part of it (the review) due to the fact I was in Norway and didn’t get to speak to them in time,” she explained.

“I was asked but I didn’t get to make that call in time. It was due to my playing schedule with Arsenal. We’d got Aston Villa and then a Champions League game away.

“I’ve since had an internal conversation with the FAI off the back of that. And they understand my feelings towards the whole process and the review.”