Yahoo Sports FAI denies Healy claim he was given job assurance
The Football Association of Ireland's director of football Marc Canham has rejected comments by former Republic of Ireland assistant coach Colin Healy in which he criticised the process by which he departed from his role with the senior women's team.
The contracts of former head coach Eileen Gleeson and Healy were not renewed after the Irish lost to Wales in a Euro 2025 play-off final.
In a statement on Instagram, Healy claimed he had received assurances weeks before the decision that there would be a recommendation that his contract could be extended.
Healy said he turned down an offer to take a role as manager of Cobh Ramblers on the basis of a discussion with Canham, the same person who weeks later informed him that his contract with the FAI was not being renewed.
"On 11 December 2024, a few minutes before the FAI announced Eileen Gleeson would not continue as Women's National Team Head Coach, I received a very short call from Director of Football, Marc Canham, and he informed me that that my contract as assistant coach would not be renewed," read the statement released by Healy.
"The news came as a shock, as only a few weeks before the same man verbally assured me his recommendation to the board would be that my contract should be extended alongside Eileen.
"This previous conversation took place prior to the playoff game against Wales, when I was offered the position of Cobh Ramblers manager and needed to make a decision on my future."
'No guarantees or assurances'
Speaking at a press conference to introduce new Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward on Thursday, Canham insisted that Healy had not received any assurance that his contract would be renewed.
Canham explained the decision not to retain his services, nor that of Gleeson, had been made based on a review conducted after the Wales play-off defeat.
"The decision not to renew Colin's contract was purely a football decision," said Canham.
"We didn't give Colin any guarantees or full assurances that his contract would be renewed. That was always gong to be be based on the findings of the review and how the games went against Wales."
Canham added that the FAI had explained to Healy that he was at liberty to decide whether to wait to be considered for the role of number two under the next Republic manager or take up the position of manager with Cobh Ramblers.
FAI chief executive David Courell concurred that it was Healy's decision to turn down the opportunity with Cobh.
"As regards the conversation I had with Colin, it was very clear that Colin's contract was not being renewed, that it has concluded, it couldn't have been any clearer," said Courell at Thursday's media event.
"We were always open to whoever was appointed head coach considering Colin as a number two, but it's always most important for that new coach to have their own choice and their own opportunity to appoint their own number two.
"I expressed that I understood that if he had another opportunity, if he wanted to take that, it was a risk for him."
'The perfect match'
Joining the two FAI representatives at the top table for Thursday's press event was former Aston Villa manager Ward.
The appointment of the 41-year-old on a deal which would take her through to the end of the 2027 World Cup campaign was announced on Wednesday.
Ward, who was part of the United States' management team as they won gold at last year's Paris Olympics and also had stints in charge of Sheffield United and Birmingham City, was clear about her goals for the future, including qualifying for a second successive World Cup.
"We have to win football matches, we have to try and get out of the Nations League and we have to get to the World Cup," she told reporters.
"I like to be in a team that's exciting to play in, exciting to watch, having players play with a smile on their face.
"I've always loved the Irish mentality and have enjoyed working with Irish players. I'm passionate, I think it's the right time for me and I think it's the perfect match."
Canham said that he believed Ward could "unify a group of players, get them to buy in, get the very best out of them and take them to the next level".
