Latest news with #DavidCourell
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Colin Healy doubles down on claims he was told he would be kept on as assistant coach to national women's team
Colin Healy has accused the FAI's outgoing chief football officer Marc Canham and its chief executive David Courell of lying about his departure as assistant coach to the Republic of Ireland women's team . Healy was assistant coach from September 2023 to last December, when his contract was not renewed following the defeat to Wales in the Euro 2025 play-offs. Healy and his agent Graham Barrett claim that Canham had 'verbally assured' them before the play-off that Healy would continue in his job unless Ireland were 'hammered' by Wales. This assurance had prompted the 45-year-old to turn down an offer to manage the Cobh Ramblers men's team. READ MORE Canham has repeatedly stated that no assurances were given to Healy or Barrett. Courell claims that Healy 'misinterpreted' a text message that the CEO sent on December 12th, the day after his contract ended, that suggested the FAI would have been open to retaining the coach if not for a job offer from Kerry FC. 'That's not true,' Healy said this week. [ FAI continues to deny Colin Healy claims over contract renewal ] Healy also said that no bereavement support was offered by the FAI board or leadership following the death of his wife Kelly in April last year. 'When Kelly passed I had text messages here and there, but other than that, [nothing]. We [subsequently] got an apology for that,' Healy said. 'The only [FAI] support I had was from Eileen Gleeson and the [coaching] staff and the players.' On December 11th last year Canham told Healy, during a four-minute phone conversation, that his contract was not being renewed. Healy said that Courell texted him the following day to indicate that he would have been welcomed back to the FAI if he did not have a job offer from Kerry FC. 'I got a text from David that they were hoping I would continue. After the year that I had, the [Ireland] job suited my family [Healy has two children, Arran (20) and Holly (13)]. I could do a lot of work from home [when not in camp for internationals].' The FAI CEO has repeatedly claimed that you 'misinterpreted' his text, what's your response to that? 'That's not true.' When the Kerry job first came up, late last year, is it credible to suggest Courell believed you were leaving the FAI to manage the first-division club? 'We'd spoken to them, but I wasn't leaving the FAI to go to the Kerry job. That was never the case.' What did Canham say to you initially about keeping your job? 'Cobh Ramblers were interested and they had offered me a contract. When I spoke to Cobh – I got permission from the FAI – they knew my contract was up after the Wales game. It was close to home so it made sense, but I was given assurances that we would be staying on. I was talked out of going to Cobh.' By Canham? 'Yes, and by Eileen Gleeson , who was fully sure we were going to be staying on. I enjoyed my time working with the team at the FAI, so I turned down the [Cobh] job. It was a two-year contract around the corner from my house. I was led to believe I was going to be staying on.' Eileen Gleeson and Colin Healy before the UEFA European women's qualifier play-off final second leg game against Wales last December. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/INPHO How did Canham convey those assurances? 'Bar a hammering against Wales [in Euro 2025 play-off], when [the board] might have to make a decision, they were happy with what we were doing.' Did he use the phrase 'bar a hammering'? 'Yeah, 'bar a hammering'.' [Canham denies this exchange happened.] Do you think Canham always planned to replace you and Gleeson with Carla Ward and Alan Mahon? 'I don't know. I had work elsewhere, and I was [dissuaded] from doing it. That's wrong in any line of work. We had a difficult year. I have to look after two kids and I'm out of work. I think it's wrong.' When and how did Canham relay the news? 'December 11th. A four-minute phone call. I was the assistant coach of the national team. Would you not bring me up to Dublin and sit down, have a conversation? I didn't have to go back [after Kelly died in April]. I could have stayed off the whole year and said I'm not ready. But I went back for the players, for the staff, and I went back for myself. I don't think they showed too much respect for that.' Was there any reason from Canham as to why they let you go? 'He told me it was the board's decision.' Courell's text referred to an offer from Kerry? 'We were speaking to one or two clubs, but at the time the kids were the most important thing and I wasn't in any shape to take a [new] role at that time. Holly is still in school and I wanted to stay with the FAI. I wanted to stay with the team.' What was your reaction to Canham saying no 'verbal assurances' were made and Courell saying you 'misinterpreted' his text at the Carla Ward unveiling on January 16th? 'I was a bit upset by it. Not surprised.' They were not telling the truth? 'No.' What specifically? 'They said I 'misinterpreted' what they said. It was on television, so everybody sees it. They said it was a football decision that I wasn't [offered a contract renewal], but why did the CEO, in his text, say that he was hoping for me to continue? I found that very strange.' Do you feel let down by the FAI? 'I travelled the world with Ireland. I captained the under-21s. Played senior. Did all my coaching badges with [Ireland under-19s coach] Tom Mohan. The FAI have done so much for me, and I had some great years, but to leave the way it happened hurt.' Would you have confidence in Courell's ability to lead the FAI? 'That is a hard question. I probably won't answer that one.' Considering the past year, did the FAI's handling of your situation surprise you? 'It did surprise me, it really did, because it is the highest level. I think they have to change. Whenever I was releasing players at Cork City or when I was released as a player, you are sat down and given the reason why you are released. It is not text messages or calls. It is face-to-face conversations. Mistakes were made. The way I have been treated is a lack of respect.' How difficult was it to go public? 'It was very difficult for my kids. They were upset as well, from what happened. Holly used to go to the matches and she loved it. That was all taken away from her.' How are the kids doing? 'Good days and bad days, isn't there. I am up [in Dublin] doing this and Arran is at home minding Holly. We made that decision together that I would go back to work. I used to go away with the Irish team for 12 days and the two kids were at home by themselves. The house is quiet.'
Irish Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Euro 2028 boost for Ireland as UEFA confirms qualification path for host nations
Ireland are well placed to compete at Euro 2028 after UEFA today confirmed the qualification process for the finals. UEFA are reserving two spots in the tournament for the two best ranked host nations who do not qualify as group winners or best runners-up. Ireland want to qualify by right but, as a fallback, they will be guaranteed a place at the tournament if at least two of England, Scotland and Wales qualify. Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales are co-hosting the 2028 finals and will all contest the standard group stage qualifying campaign. There will be 12 groups of four or five teams, with the Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales drawn into separate groups. The 12 group winners and eight best runners-up will advance directly to the 24-team Euro 2028 finals, with Dublin one of the nine host venues. As had been mooted, UEFA will hold two spots for host nations who do not qualify automatically. The last two spots at Euro 2028 will be assigned via play-offs between the remaining group runners-up and the Nations League 2026/27 non-qualified group winners. Northern Ireland is no longer a host nation, after Casement Park in Belfast was dropped from the list of venues due to ongoing funding delays for redevelopment. As it stands, Aviva Stadium is set to host four group games and two knockout games, including a quarter-final - but could be in line for more matches. UEFA expects to confirm the full breakdown when its tournament schedule is released this autumn. Meanwhile, the Irish economy received a €17 million boost from Dublin staging the 2024 Europa League final. That's according to an EY impact report into the economic and social benefits of the Aviva Stadium final last May, when Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen. FAI chief executive David Courell said: 'We are immensely proud that the 2024 UEFA Europa League Final has made such a valuable contribution to the Irish economy. 'It was crucial for us to surpass the impact of our previous hosting in 2011. These figures, demonstrating a €17 million economic benefit and significant job support, affirm that success. 'This achievement cements a powerful legacy as we look ahead to co-hosting UEFA EURO 2028.'
Irish Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Republic of Ireland and fellow Euro 2028 hosts set for automatic qualification
The Republic of Ireland , along with fellow Euro 2028 co-hosts Scotland, Wales, and England, are expected to be granted automatic qualification for the tournament if they fail to qualify through the established process. Uefa's executive committee will meet in Bilbao next Wednesday – ahead of the Europa League final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – to ratify the qualification format. David Courell, the FAI chief executive, revealed last November that 'automatic slots' will be held for a host nation that fails to qualify. 'We are having conversations with Uefa but the working assumption is all of us will go through qualification and if we are unsuccessful in qualifying on merit, then there will be automatic slots in reserve, but that has yet to be ratified by Uefa,' said Courell last year. READ MORE 'I won't go into the details of it, but what I will say is that we are very confident that we will feature in Euro 2028 on merit because I am happy with the trajectory we are on and we have a brilliant crop of players and have a great coaching team that I think is evolving our approach and style and hopefully, we will see that pay dividends over the coming years. 'That said, we will have the benefit of a highly increased likelihood of qualifying if we don't go through on merit.' It remains unclear if the co-hosts will enter the playoffs if they finish second in qualification. The Euros will take place in nine venues across eight cities in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Aviva Stadium is set to host six matches, which is an increase on the five matches initially allocated as Northern Ireland withdrew from the process after failing to get funding from the UK government to redevelop Casement Park in Belfast. 'To be clear,' Courell added, 'Northern Ireland won't qualify for an automatic slot if they are not a host nation.' The other confirmed venues for the 24-team tournament are Hampden Park in Glasgow, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, St James' Park in Newcastle, the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Everton's new Bramley Moore Dock stadium in Liverpool, Villa Park in Birmingham, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley, which will host the final.
Irish Independent
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
FAI's David Courell happy to conduct reviews
FAI CEO David Courell says he is happy to lead a review into the performance of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson if a replacement for outgoing chief football officer Marc Canham is not in place before the climax of Ireland's World Cup campaign in the autumn.
Irish Examiner
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
FAI aim to defuse rancour over summer soccer in political circles
The FAI will attempt to take the sting out of the backlash to their summer soccer change by addressing politicians in Leinster House next Wednesday. Discord against the move from early next year has spread into the political sphere as a growing alliance of leagues have assembled to oppose the removal of choice. They want to retain their right to run the traditional season around the school year from September to May due to fears about dropout rates. Scheduling football directly into competition with GAA has caused particular alarm in the provinces while other concerns apply in urban areas. FAI regional staff are seeking new calendars from leagues but despite the first phase due to commence from underage in January, it's known that six of the top leagues, DDSL and North Dublin, along with Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick have not agreed to the overhaul. 'As I'm sure you are aware, the topic of an aligned football calendar has generated significant discussion in communities across the country,' said FAI chief executive David Courell in an invite to a session next Wednesday at 4pm circulated to Oireachtas members. 'We would like to take the opportunity to provide clarity and context on this crucial element of our Football Pathways Plan and outline how this is a positive development for Irish football'. While in that forum, they're also eager to promote the case for academy investment. An audit of the €8m-per-annum proposal sought for national league clubs nationwide is due to commence shortly, with a report due by August and decision in time for the 2026 Budget in October. 'We will be outlining our vision for the development of Academies, which we believe are fundamental to engage and nurture young talent and strengthen the game at all levels,' continued Courell. 'This briefing will offer elected representatives an opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the FAI's strategic objectives and to engage in meaningful and constructive discussions on how we can work together to support the growth of Irish football - which we know has the potential to deliver significant social and economic benefits.'
