Vera Pauw accuses FAI of reneging on contract pledge and undermining her at World Cup

Former Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw has sharply criticised the FAI, which is led by chief executive Jonathan Hill, following the association’s decision on Tuesday to not extend her contract.

Pauw had sought a new two-year deal that would have seen her coach Ireland up to the 2025 European Championships in Switzerland.

On Thursday evening, the 60-year-old Dutch coach accused the FAI executive of reneging on a “promised offer” of a new contract.

“I said before the World Cup that I was extremely happy in Ireland and that it was my desire to continue in my role,” said Pauw, via a statement released by her representatives BDO.

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“I entered into discussions with the FAI to extend my contract back in early March and was confident that this process could be concluded quickly. At that time I asked Ciarán Medlar [BDO head of client services] to assist me and the process duly began.”

Medlar advises several leading Irish athletes. He is also the chairman of Shamrock Rovers.

“The FAI also expressed their commitment to this outcome and worked with my representative to bring this to a conclusion,” Pauw continued. “I requested that their decision, whatever that may be, would be finalised at the very latest before we went to Australia [in July].

“Despite committing to issuing an offer to me, the FAI reconsidered their stated position and I never received the promised offer.”

The association halted negotiations with Medlar when Pauw did an interview with the Athletic – the sports arm of the New York Times – where she denied any wrongdoing during her time as the Houston Dash coach in 2018.

Following an investigation by the National Women’s Soccer League last January, she was banned from coaching professionally in the US.

Pauw guided the Ireland women’s side to their first major tournament but the World Cup in Australia ended at the group stages on July 31st, with the manager publicly criticising her captain, Katie McCabe.

[ Karen Duggan: There was too much noise and too many distractions around Vera Pauw as Ireland manager ]

It is understood that a number of senior Irish players subsequently asked the FAI to consider appointing a new coaching ticket for the Euros campaign.

Earlier this week the 11-strong board of directors, following a six-hour meeting in Abbotstown, decided to go in a new direction, with Eileen Gleeson named as interim manager for the Nations League match against Northern Ireland on September 23rd. This fixture will be the first-ever women’s football international at the Aviva Stadium.

“I parked the contract discussions while we were in Australia, as my sole focus was the team and the competition,” said Pauw. “Following the article which appeared in the Athletic at the start of July, which included allegations I absolutely refute, I believe the FAI made some major mistakes by directly overruling the tasks of the coach.

“My position became very challenging when executives in the FAI, not technical football coaches, effectively took my seat and spoke to staff members and players regarding their roles in the team before and after the World Cup.

“My advice – coming from my knowledge and experience – was often disregarded and not respected. In my opinion, no head coach in the world would accept interference of the executives in technical football affairs.

“Unfortunately, trust broke down between me and certain people in the FAI.”

Pauw, via BDO, has been asked to clarify what she means by interference from the FAI executive.

“I believe that the review process which the association has carried out was flawed and that the outcome was predetermined. Indeed, some discussions were held with players and staff before and during the World Cup which undermined my position and had an impact on our team-building process.”

The FAI’s World Cup review was carried out by director of football Marc Canham.

The association declined to respond to Pauw’s statement, with Hill not slated to speak publicly until after the men’s international window is over. Stephen Kenny’s Ireland face France in Paris next Thursday and the Netherlands in Dublin the following Sunday.

“The Irish people have been so welcoming and supportive of me from the day I arrived here, and I have been very happy and always felt extremely safe in Ireland,” said Pauw. “I will never forget the warmth the Irish people have shown towards me and a part of me will always feel Irish from here on. To have been asked to be the grand marshal at the St Patrick’s Day parade earlier this year was such an honour for me and will remain a highlight of my life.”

The Athletic published a 7,000-word article on July 2nd that spoke to seven anonymous sources connected to the Houston Dash. All of them accused Pauw of “bullying and belittling” behaviour back in 2018. Pauw denies all the allegations.

Before the World Cup began, McCabe described this ongoing saga around Pauw’s single season in club management as a “real negative distraction”.

“I do not leave with any regrets and my overriding emotions today are of happiness and pride to have played a part in the wonderful journey of this team over the last four years,” Pauw concluded.

“This team will only grow. Better structures are now in place, facilities have improved, stability is secured and the players are ready to face any challenge. I am confident that women’s football in Ireland will go from strength to strength. Thank you all so much for making my time in Ireland unforgettable. I wish continued success to this team.

“I will be watching closely.”

Vera Pauw statement in full

I have enjoyed four wonderful years working as head coach of the Republic of Ireland Senior International Women’s Team.

I have had the opportunity to work with excellent colleagues and players during that time and have truly loved the experiences we have had together and what we have achieved over that time. To have qualified for our first World Cup was a true reflection of our progress and was a historic achievement shared by us all. I am so proud of our campaign, from our first qualifying game through to our final match at the World Cup finals. It is hopefully only the start of much more to come.

While we had hoped for better results on the pitch in Australia, even when faced with our biggest opponents, we demonstrated our growth and our ability to compete at the world’s highest level.

As an elite coach, losing never sits well with me, but the immense support and congratulations that I have received on our campaign coming from all over the world will have a long-lasting influence on me.

The Irish people have been so welcoming and supportive of me from the day I arrived here, and I have been very happy and always felt extremely safe in Ireland. I will never forget the warmth the Irish people have shown towards me and a part of me will always feel Irish from here on! To have been asked to be the grand marshal at the St Patrick’s Day parade earlier this year was such an honour for me and will remain a highlight of my life.

The Irish fans are rightly recognised all over the world for their fantastic support and the way they have been behind this team, both at home and away, has been remarkable. In Australia, there were thousands of Irish fans in the stadiums, on the streets, at the airport or singing in the pubs. We had a very special homecoming in Dublin. I knew that this was a goodbye from me to all the people in Ireland who have actively supported me. It was not a sad moment; rather it felt like a celebration of our connection. It is great to see the growth in and enthusiasm for women’s football in Ireland and the way the fans have shared in our journey.

I am conscious that there has been a lot of noise in recent times around my contract and I believe I should make some brief comment.

I said before the World Cup that I was extremely happy in Ireland and that it was my desire to continue in my role. I entered into discussions with the FAI to extend my contract back in early March and was confident that this process could be concluded quickly. At that time I asked Ciarán Medlar to assist me and the process duly began. The FAI also expressed their commitment to this outcome and worked with my representative to bring this to a conclusion. I requested that their decision, whatever that may be, would be finalised at the very latest before we went to Australia.

Despite committing to issuing an offer to me, the FAI reconsidered their stated position and I never received the promised offer. I parked the contract discussions while we were in Australia, as my sole focus was the team and the competition.

Following the article which appeared in the Athletic at the start of July, which included allegations I absolutely refute, I believe the FAI made some major mistakes by directly overruling the tasks of the coach.

My position became very challenging when executives in the FAI, not technical football coaches, effectively took my seat and spoke to staff members and players regarding their roles in the team before and after the World Cup. My advice – coming from my knowledge and experience – was often disregarded and not respected. In my opinion, no head coach in the world would accept interference of the executives in technical football affairs.

Unfortunately, trust broke down between me and certain people in the FAI. I believe that the review process which the association has carried out was flawed and that the outcome was predetermined.

Indeed, some discussions were held with players and staff before and during the World Cup which undermined my position and had an impact on our team-building process. That is perhaps for another day.

However, I do not leave with any regrets and my overriding emotions today are of happiness and pride to have played a part in the wonderful journey of this team over the last four years.

This team will only grow. Better structures are now in place, facilities have improved, stability is secured and the players are ready to face any challenge. I am confident that women’s football in Ireland will go from strength to strength.

Thank you all so much for making my time in Ireland unforgettable.

I wish continued success to this team. I will be watching closely.

Vera