‘So, when I say I am in, I am in’ - Carla Ward reaffirms Ireland commitment

Carla Ward has emphasised her commitment to remain as head coach of the Republic of Ireland by revealing that she turned down an opportunity to manage a club in the English Women’s Super League (WSL).

“I’ll tell you one thing, I was offered a WSL job a few weeks ago and I turned it down because I am loving what I am doing,” she said.

Ward was responding to concerns about her future in Ireland following the resignations of Marc Canham, the FAI’s chief football officer, and the head of women and girls’ football Hannah Dingley.

Both Canham and Dingley are returning home to England where Dingley was named on Monday as the head of Manchester City’s girls’ academy after just 12 months working in Abbotstown.

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“Listen, I really wanted the Ireland job,” said Ward, who commutes from England for international windows. “I turned down two other countries that offered me the job, whilst I was in the interview process for Ireland, because I wholeheartedly wanted to manage this country.

“So, when I say I am in, I am in.”

Ward is under contract until the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

“I am talking long-term to the board, not just around the next two games, but how we develop the League of Ireland - we’ve spoke a lot about that - so there is a bigger picture here.

“There have been some challenges of course, but I love being here.”

On the departure of Canham and Dingley, Ward added: “It’s disappointing for me, I’ve known Hannah a long time. I was Hannah’s captain many years ago. She’s a very, very, very good person.

Hannah Dingley has left her position as the FAI's head of women and girls football to take up a post at Manchester City. Photograph: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

“She sits opposite me in the FAI so I usually get her around the tactics board, I’ll miss that of course. She’s got a wonderful opportunity at Manchester City. For me, it’s a big loss personally. I wish her well.

“[Canham], it’s a big loss again. He has recruited me. I’m on the phone to him every day trying to knock down doors. I always want more, Marc’s helped me with that.

“I think it’s going to be important the person who comes in has to be a football person. I’ve been honest about that, it’s got to be somebody who’s also going to be as supportive of the women, as Marc has been.”

Canham’s assistant director of football Shane Robinson has been promoted to interim technical director, an unused title within the FAI since Packie Bonner held the position between 2003 and 2010.

Robinson’s responsibilities will not include dealing with Ward or the men’s senior manager Heimir Hallgrímsson. Both will now report directly to chief executive David Courell.

Meanwhile, the soon to be retired Louise Quinn has been named as the “24th player” in Ward’s squad to face Turkey and Slovenia in the Nations League B, with a trip to Istanbul on May 30th before the final group match against Slovenia at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on June 3rd.

Due to the 4-0 loss away to Slovenia in February, Ireland are unlikely to gain automatic promotion. Second place in the group would put them into a playoff with a third-place finisher from Nations League A, with victory securing a smoother route to the 2027 World Cup.

Quinn announced her retirement last month after a 21-year club career that included 121 caps for Ireland.

“Lou’s made it very, very clear that she’s fit,” said Ward. “I’ve had her Birmingham manager on to me telling me the same thing. She’ll turn up, she’ll train, there’s competition for everybody.”

However, Ward did confirm that Quinn will retire from the game after the two friendlies against the USA in Colorado on June 26th and Cincinnati on June 29th.

Erin Healy scores Adelaide United's equaliser during the first leg of the A-League Women's semi-final against Melbourne Victory at Coopers Stadium in Adelaide. Photograph: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

The uncapped Erin Healy has been called up for the first time after the American-born striker scored eight goals for Adelaide United in this season’s Australian A-League.

“She’s pacey, she can play off both sides, she can play down the middle. I think she is a natural replacement for [the injured] Leanne Kiernan.

“She has attracted a number of WSL clubs and will hopefully end up there this summer. She is an exciting young player that can score goals and link the play.”

Heather Payne (Achilles) and Kiernan (quad) are unavailable while Tara O’Hanlon, Jamie Finn, Lily Agg and Jess Ziu continue to recover from injuries.

Shelbourne’s Aoibheann Clancy and Shamrock Rovers midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn are the two League of Ireland players in a group that includes 13 players born outside the country – seven from England, five Americans and Littlejohn, who was born in Scotland.

Ireland captain Katie McCabe will link up with the squad in Turkey following Arsenal’s Champions League final against Barcelona in Lisbon on Saturday.

“There’s a large group of [Irish] players going to watch Katie,” Ward revealed. “I don’t know the exact number but there’s players going to support her, and there’s a flight out of Lisbon to Turkey so they’ll arrive at the same time as everybody else does on Sunday.”

Ireland Squad

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Unattached), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic)

Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (West Ham United), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Louise Quinn (Unattached), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Unattached), Katie McCabe (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ruesha Littlejohn (Shamrock Rovers), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Aoibheann Clancy (Shelbourne)

Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Saoirse Noonan (Celtic), Erin Healy (Adelaide United)