Ex-Ireland women’s coach slams treatment from FAI

"The news came as a shock."

Former assistant coach of the Ireland women's football team, Colin Healy, has blasted the FAI in a statement released today, January 16.

Healy - who togged out for Ireland, Celtic, and Cork City during his playing career - was let go from his position along with manager Eileen Gleeson last month.

However, Healy has claimed that he was put under the impression by FAI Director of Football, Marc Canham, that his contract would be extended. As such, Healy says he turned down an offer to become manager of Cobh Ramblers.

He also claimed that there had been a stunning case of miscommunication within the FAI, with CEO David Courell - whom Healy describes as a 'very decent man' - informing Healy that the organisation were sorry to see him resign and that they would have 'welcomed an opportunity' for him to continue.

Full Colin Healy statement here - posted on Instagram page of his representatives Integrity Sports

Message from Courell seems to be a significant part of this pic.twitter.com/nVCEigRMfh

— Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) January 16, 2025

The statement reads: "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 my contract as assistant coach would not be renewed.

"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.

"The following day, after I'd digested the FAI’s decision and noticed they had failed to mention that I had been let go within their statement, I asked my representatives Integrity Sports to announce that I had been let go. It was important to me that the squad members knew that I had not chosen to leave, given the respect and loyalty I felt towards every single one of them."

"On the morning of 12 December 2024, I received a text from FAI CEO, David Courell - who I believe to be a very decent man – sincerely thanking me for my time with the association.

"But rather surprisingly, David also expressed genuine sorrow that it had been communicated to him that I had made the decision not to continue, whilst also being very clear that the FAI would have welcomed an opportunity for me to continue my work with them. By reply I informed David that it was not my decision to leave and that I was, in fact, let go."

Former Republic of Ireland international Healy added that he intends to make a formal complaint to the FAI's Director of People and Culture.