Carla Ward: I turned down Women's Super League club job to remain with Ireland

STAYING PUT: Head coach Carla Ward during a Republic of Ireland women squad announcement. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

Carla Ward has revealed she’s rejected an offer to turn her back on Ireland for a top-flight club job, stressing not even Chelsea would tempt her away.

The FAI headhunted former Birmingham City and Aston Villa boss in January to succeed Eileen Gleeson, whose failure to reach this summer’s Euros prompted the change.

Ward has overseen four matches in the Uefa Nations League, three wins and a heavy defeat in Slovenia, but the main workload are the qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup kicking off next February.

While her fellow English natives Marc Canham and Hannah Dingley recently cut short their stints in Irish football, Ward insists she’s sticking around to complete her contract.

Vacancies have arisen in the English game as the season concludes but the Ireland custodian is adamant no alternative – even an unlikely offer from six-in-a-row champions Chelsea – can entice her home.

"I'll tell you one thing, I was offered a WSL (Women’s Super League) job a few weeks ago and I turned it down because I am loving what I am doing," she said while unveiling her 24-player squad for a double-header against Turkey and Slovenia, which will see Ireland needing to win by four goals in the rematch at Pairc Uí Chaoímh on Tuesday, June 3 following their 4-0 loss away to the Slovenians earlier in the campiagn.

"Listen, I really wanted the Ireland job. I turned down two other countries that offered me the job whilst I was in the interview process for Ireland because I wholeheartedly wanted to manage this country. So when I say I am in, I am in.

"I am talking long term to the (FAI) board, not just around the next two games, but how we develop the League of Ireland.

“We've spoken a lot about that, so there is a bigger picture here. I have loved being here. There have been some challenges of course, but I love being here. I am proud to represent this country."

Ward confessed her sadness at Dingley quitting the FAI, just a year into her brief as head of women’s and girls’ football. The pair were reunited in April when Ward needed to bolster his backroom team.

“It’s disappointing for me,” she explained.

“I was captain of Hannah’s team many years ago. She’s somebody that I’ve known a very long time, a very, very, very good person.

“She sits opposite me in the FAI so I usually get her around the tactics board, I’ll miss that of course. She’s got a wonderful opportunity to join Manchester City’s women’s academy and I wish her well. For me, it’s a big loss personally. I wish her well.”

Another issue to dishearten Ward was the decision of Blackburn Rovers to withdraw their women’s Championship. One of Ireland’s midfielders Tyler Toland spent the last two seasons at Ewood Park but has offers.

“It’s sad, it’s sad but it’s also difficult,” Ward said.

“When I was at Sheffield United, the same happened when they pulled the money. And the sad thing is that the women’s game isn’t as far on as people like to think it is, still.

“There are still clubs that maybe it is difficult for because women’s football doesn’t make any money for a football club yet.

“So, it is not right, at all, but it is probably the first area they look at and say this is costing us X, so unless you have real owners and a board who really care about the women’s game or giving females in the community an opportunity.

“It is always going to be the first to go, sadly.”