FAI board members Packie Bonner and Niamh O’Mahony have been involved in the interview process to appoint the new Ireland women’s manager.
Director of Football Marc Canham justified the release of Vera Pauw at the completion of her contract in August by declaring a manager sharing the FAI’s philosophy was imperative.
They have been busily engaged in sourcing the successor since, retaining a recruitment company to assist, and it’s believed the decision is imminent as they whittle down the candidates.
Eileen Gleeson was adamant from the start of her caretaker residency that her eyes were firmly on resuming the head of women’s and girls’ football role she was recruited for last year.
Were her team to win both games of this double-header, she would be the only Ireland manager to record six victories in a row.
Other contenders have been sounded out. They range from club bosses to a few with international experience.
South Korea manager Colin Bell, who Pauw followed in 2019, has spoken publicly about his desire to complete unfinished business.
While Canham spearheading the hunt, he has enlisted a couple of board members in the spirit of objectivity.
Former Ireland goalkeeper Bonner returned to the FAI in 2021 as an independent director and Chairman of the International and High-Performance committee. His views are also integral to the parallel, but more recently launched, pursual of a men’s team manager.
O’Mahony represents the professional chamber on the board, the pillar of the FAI that principally caters for league of Ireland men and women clubs.
Player opinion on the ideal characteristics for a new manager was elicited this week. Denise O’Sullivan, centurion and midfield maestro, didn’t hesitate to lay out her
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