Emma Byrne trusts FAI will get Ireland managerial appointment right

The person who started the women’s team revolution was an ideal recruit to maintain its evolution.

Emma Byrne doesn’t know whether her tenancy on the backroom staff will extend beyond the interim but at least she’s now on the inside witnessing what awaits the next permanent manager.

Once a thorn in the side of the FAI for seeking basic demands, peaking with the 2017 strike she led as captain, Ireland’s record caps holder still won’t be cowered.

Herself, along with caretaker manager Eileen Gleeson and fellow assistant Colin Healy have begun the post-Vera Pauw era with two wins from two but League B of the Nations League is habitat Byrne wants to flee rather than indulge.

“It’s certainly very close to it,” the former Arsenal goalkeeper said when asked if optimal professionalism was on hand for the incoming boss, whenever the FAI source them.

“I haven’t lost my very high standards. Even when playing cards in camp, it annoyed me not winning. I should have known about that.

“We’re in a great place but the next step is very important. We've gotten to a point where we're very happy where we're at, as in the opportunity to develop and the opportunity the girls have, and it's certainly an exciting time for women's football.

“I believe that will just keep going and going and, obviously, they'll need that manager.

“But it's not easy to get a manager that fits.” 

The FAI chose to depart from the norm in the last two appointments by going international, headhunting Colin Bell and then Pauw.

Byrne remains part of the scene around the English Women’s Super League, working as a pundit and gaining her coaching badges, and is firmly of the view that the Ireland vacancy will appeal to credible candidates.

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