With a single word, Vera Pauw made her feelings clear about her contract situation with the Football Association of Ireland during what could prove her last pre-match press conference as the Republic of Ireland manager.
Ahead of Ireland’s final World Cup game against Nigeria in Brisbane (kick-off Monday, 11am Irish time), Pauw was asked if it was unfair on her and the Irish players that the FAI has not completed her contract negotiations before or during the tournament.
“Yes,” she replied.
Pauw’s contract ends next month but she is seeking a two-year extension to guide the team into the 2025 European Championships in Switzerland. Ciarán Medlar from BDO – he is also the chairman of Shamrock Rovers – has been negotiating with FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill on her behalf.
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“The situation has not changed,” said Pauw.
When asked if she had the backing of the Ireland players, the manager said, “I think we have a fantastic bond in our team and that has shown all over the four years. We have a fantastic game tomorrow to play, Nigeria are ranked [40] but we all agree now that they are so, so physically strong, skilful, extremely fast so there is a huge task on our plate, I want to concentrate on that game because it is crucial for us, for our feeling - for our pride - for the tournament.”
Hill, speaking earlier this month before travelling to the World Cup, said the FAI “would deal with” questions directed to him about Pauw “in Australia.” But he stopped short of giving Pauw the future backing of the association.
“As I said, I will deal with that when I get to Australia.”
With Pauw’s contract ending after four years in charge, the chief executive told reporters: “Come to Australia and we’ll talk to you.”
However, a request from the Irish media to interview Hill before the FAI delegation flies home on Tuesday was declined.
“I have not heard anything yet,” said Pauw on Saturday morning. “Have you?”
“I’m a professional so my personal issues do not matter at all at this moment. I have got messages from all over the world, from people from football, saying how tremendous Ireland have done and what an addition to women’s football Ireland is.”
With the FAI refusing to comment, Megan Connolly, while sitting beside Pauw on Sunday, became the latest Irish player to be placed in a difficult situation.
“It is not my decision,” said Connolly on Pauw’s future employment. “What we have achieved in the past two, three years under Vera has been amazing. She helped us get to this point and I can only speak on my own personal experience and Vera has been great for me. But that is not my decision.”
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This was not a normal pre-match press conference. TalkSport correspondent Shebahn Aherne, who is Ireland midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn’s twin sister, asked why Pauw was praising Fifa and the FAI while also questioning the association’s pre and in-tournament planning.
“All the efforts have been made to give us the best programme possible in the timeframe we were given,” said Pauw.
Ireland lost their first ever World Cup match 1-0 to hosts Australia on July 20th before Canada beat them 2-1 in Perth six days later. They cannot now qualify for the knockout stages regardless of the result against Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Heather Payne “might be okay” to start against Nigeria despite pulling up during the warm-up last Wednesday. Earlier on Sunday, Pauw and Ireland captain Katie McCabe made a surprise visit to the Fifa Fan zone in Perth.
