Vera Pauw fears for League of Ireland future under current European structure

Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw predicts that the women's League of Ireland will be destroyed under the current European club structures, that only allow league winners Shelbourne to represent the country in the Champions League.

“Especially in the way Uefa is going now, there is a lot of money available and that goes to clubs in the Champions League,” Pauw explained. “But they need to take care of the second tier, it is so important for the growth of the game.

“We hope that an [Irish] team will enter the group stage but at the same time I am frightened of a team entering the group stage because that club will receive €400,000. And that [figure] will grow.

“Can you imagine what happens here in the league if one team has a bank account with €400,000? We will have no league anymore.

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“We have to make sure that countries like Ireland can grow and fill the gap but the top countries are getting richer and richer and getting away.

“I always say: we want equal opportunities to men’s football. We don’t want to be equal to men’s football. We want to say, women’s football equals men’s football in structures.

“I have discussed this with Uefa. The only thing I can do is call Nadine Kessler [Uefa women’s football chief] and that’s what I have done, and we had a very respectful and long conversation about it.

“[Uefa president] Aleksander Ceferin has mentioned it, so they are aware of this problem now. I trust that it is on the table and they will discuss it. I have offered my experience. If they want to discuss it further, they can call me or I’ll come to Switzerland.”

On putting the FAI’s strategic plan (2022-25) for women’s football into practice, Pauw stressed that a new system must be created to ensure girls get the same opportunities as boys to reach their full potential.

“At 10, 11, 12 years old, when boys and girls start to divide, it is our task that we find a structure that those players find their own place. For the most talented players it needs to be common that they keep playing with boys. That is the best place for her to develop, so we need to do something with the regulations.

“But the players who are 12, 13, 14 years old [must have] a girls-only league; we need to make sure that that league is set up. We need to make sure that we have different streams and that we adapt to the age and level of ambition of the player.

“The question we need to ask ourselves - is she still learning? In a 15-0 game nobody on either side is learning. If she plays with boys and cannot handle the pressure, she is not learning, nor is she learning on a girl’s side when she is the very best.

“We need to create a structure where every single girl can learn the game, where she can play the game and also enjoys the game at her level. In four years time, I want us to have created that structure. Like with the boys, the girls deserve the same opportunities to develop. That is our task.”

The Dutch coach has relayed the need for these essential changes to the association’s chief executive Jonathan Hill.

“The greatest concern [at grasroots] is that we find blocks and because of the current structure that we cannot create this pathway for [female] players. We have asked the CEO [Hill] to bring in the people who are dealing with the women’s game so that together we can create this pathway and are not in each other’s way, like the schools FA and the leagues.”

Pinatar Cup

Pauw has cast doubt on the availability of Liverpool’s Megan Campbell (knee) when announcing a 27-player panel for the Pinatar Cup, a three match tournament, which starts next Wednesday against Poland in La Manga, Spain.

The good news sees Wexford Youths teenager Ellen Molloy and Liverpool striker Leanne Kieran return from injury while Abbie Larkin, the 16 year-old Shels forward, has been promoted to the senior squad.

“Everybody knows that Ellen is a huge talent,” said Pauw of last season’s outstanding performer in the FAI Cup final. “Her next step is to become dominant defensively and in midfield, so that she is capable of putting pressure, but she has all the prerequisites to get there.”

Celtic’s Tyler Toland continues to be exiled from Pauw’s squad due to an unresolved argument involving the 20 year old’s father and the Irish manager.

“Tyler did not call me so I don’t know if she wants to play,” said Pauw. “If she comes back she has a lot of competition. If she calls me she will be on the list to be called in - if she is better than others.”

Republic of Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)

Defenders: Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Diane Caldwell (Manchester United), Claire Walsh (Glasgow City), Savannah McCarthy (Galway WFC), Áine O'Gorman (Peamount United), Megan Campbell (Liverpool)

Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Niamh Farrelly (Glasgow City), Ciara Grant (Rangers), Jess Ziu (Shelbourne), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths), Isibeal Atkinson (Celtic)

Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge), Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)

2022 Pinatar Cup fixtures

February 16th

Match A1 - Wales v Scotland, Pinatar Arena, kick-off 3.30pm (4.30pm Irish Time)

Match A2 - Slovakia v Belgium, Pinatar Arena, kick-off 8.30pm (7.30pm Irish Time)

Match B1 - Republic of Ireland v Poland, La Manga, kick-off 3.30pm (2.30pm Irish Time)

Match B2 - Hungary v Russia, La Manga, kick-off 8.30pm (7.30pm Irish Time)

February 19th

A3 - Winner A1 v Winner A2, Pinatar Arena, kick-off 8.30pm (7.30pm Irish Time)

A4 - Runner-up A2 v Runner-up A1, Pinatar Arena, kick-off 3.30pm (2.30pm Irish Time)

B3 - Winner B2 v Winner B1, La Manga, kick-off 8.30pm (7.30pm Irish Time)

B4 - Runner-up B2 v Runner-up B1, La Manga, kick-off 3.30pm (2.30pm Irish Time)

February 22nd

Final - Winner A3 v Winner B3, Pinatar Arena, kick-off 8.30pm (7.30pm Irish Time)

3rd Place - Runner-up A3 v Runner-up B3, La Manga, kick-off 8.30pm (7.30pm Irish Time)

5th Place - Winner A4 v Winner B4, Pinatar Arena, kick-off 3.30pm (2.30pm Irish Time)

7th Place - Runner-up A4 v Runner-up B4, La Manga, kick-off 3.30pm (2.30pm Irish Time)

*Republic of Ireland and Slovakia will not play each other due to being in the same Women’s World Cup qualifying group.