The future of Republic of Ireland Women's team manager, Vera Pauw, will be decided at an FAI board meeting later today.
Pauw, who led Ireland to their first FIFA Women's World Cup this year, has heard nothing in regards to her job from the FAI. There is wide speculation that the 60-year-old will not be in charge of the Irish women's team when the next campaign gets underway.
According to The Irish Times, they are quoted as saying, "If the 11-strong board has listened to senior Irish players, the Dutch woman is unlikely to receive a contract extension up to the 2025 European Championships in Switzerland. If not, Chief Executive Jonathan Hill will need to produce a detailed explanation as to why Pauw is being retained when she has seemingly lost the support of her squad."
During Ireland's final World Cup group game, Ireland captain Katie McCabe and Pauw got into a verbal exchange over substitutions. Pauw after the game said, “If Katie McCabe says that she wants a change, that doesn’t mean she’s the coach,” Pauw said. “Everybody was doing so well. And I said: ‘What do you want, Katie? To take the best player off?’ No."
FAI board to decide Vera Pauw’s fate this week https://t.co/tJFVLEJTWP
— Irish Times Sport (@IrishTimesSport) August 28, 2023
McCabe then tweeted out a zipped-up emoji later in the evening, which prompted speculation that Ireland's captain and players were not fully supportive of the idea of keeping Pauw in the job.
There was also a press conference on the eve of the Nigeria game where Pauw was asked if she would like clarity on the contract saga and replied, "yes."
Ireland defender Megan Connolly was also in attendance at that same press conference and confirmed that the decision was not for her to decide.
“Obviously, it’s not my decision,” she said. “What we have achieved in the past two or three years under Vera has been amazing," she said in July.
“I think she helped us get to this point, and I can only speak from my own personal experience. Vera has been great for me, but it’s not my decision.”
Ireland is next in action against Northern Ireland on Saturday, 23 September, in a historic Nations League fixture at the Aviva Stadium. So, a quick resolution to the matter will come sooner rather than later between the parties.
