Colin Healy situation 'deeply regrettable' but Marc Canham stands over decision

“From a personal and association perspective, it’s deeply regrettable,” said Canham on Monday.

Mon, 24 Mar, 2025 - 17:05

John Fallon

The FAI have expressed regret over the fallout from Colin Healy’s departure but chief football officer Marc Canham has repeated his line that no promises on contract renewal were given.

Women’s team manager Eileen Gleeson and her assistant Healy were let go in December following Ireland’s Euro playoff defeat to Wales.

The controversy over the Corkman’s exit continues, while there’s also mystery over what role Gleeson takes up.

Healy released two statements, the second on the day Gleeson’s successor Carla Ward was unveiled, detailing how he rejected a club job on the assurance that his contract would be extended unless the playoff resulted in a hammering. Ireland lost 3-2 on aggregate.

That vacancy was Cobh Ramblers, an attractive offer to work under ambitious new ownership while also being close to his Cork home at a difficult personal time.

He had lost his wife Kelly in April after a long illness and was mindful of the need to be around their two children.

Gleeson negotiated a fallback option when elevating from head of women’s and girls football to team manager but Canham refused to comment on the wisdom of such an arrangement.

For the time-being, Gleeson is replicating the Robbie Keane scenario of being a paid employee without actually working a job.

Healy’s critique against Canham and the FAI was endorsed by several figureheads, including star women’s player Denise O’Sullivan.

“From a personal and association perspective, it’s deeply regrettable,” said Canham on Monday.

“I have never had that feedback, in my personal or professional life, saying you dealt with something with a lack of respect, empathy or compassion.

“That’s something I’ve always tried to do when speaking to people, whether that’s someone in the corridor or formally.

“For me and the association, it’s regrettable that someone who left the association felt that strength of feeling and was so hurt by that process.

“I have deep sympathy for his own personal situation. It’s really regrettable that it played out like it did.”

When asked if he accepted what former Ireland international Healy said, Canham was categorical in his denial of the core allegation.

“There are two elements. The human which I’ve just referred to. That’s deeply regretful and there was never any intent to feel like that.

“From a football perspective, I stand by the process and decisions. No assurances or guarantees were given to him or his representative.

“We didn’t stand in his way of speaking to the club. We gave written and verbal permission. We were consistent that nothing would happen until after the Wales games.

“We were always committed to the review and decision by the board.

“Colin’s contract came to a natural end. It was the end and we had discussions not to renew that contract.

“I know everything that happened, I know every conversation we had, we have talked this through within the association, we talk through everything that happened, every conversation with our board and we stand by the decision and the process.

“That’s pretty normal in football but I stress the real regret from a human perspective but we stand by the football process.”

Asked about O'Sullivan's critcism of what happened, Canham added: “We are in the leadership position, we have to make the decisions. So, when we get feedback, like on the aligned calendar for example, just because we are listening and taking feedback doesn’t mean have to agree with everything.

“We have to make a decision. That is ultimately our role. Sometimes those decisions are tough. We believe it was the right think to do.”

Another layer of intrigue arose when Ward said she didn’t have “the option” of considering Healy for one of her backroom berths. Amber Whiteley, since promoted to Liverpool caretaker manager, was only added a month after her appointment.

“Carla had a very clear vision on who she wanted to be in the coaching team,” he said.

“We never said you couldn't have person X or Y, including Colin. If the situation was different and she didn't have a clear vision, then Colin could have been an option for her or someone else.”

A seismic shift for an Ireland team that had become all too familiar with defeat