Colin Healy, the former Republic of Ireland player and coach, has called for an “urgent” investigation into how his exit from the FAI was handled last month in a highly critical statement in which he claims the Association’s chief football officer Marc Canham “verbally assured” him of a contract extension.
Healy approached Canham before Ireland failed to qualify for Euro 2025 in December, to inform him of the opportunity to take over as Cobh Ramblers men’s manager in his native Cork.
“On 11 December 2024, a few minutes before the FAI announced Eileen Gleeson would not continue as women’s national team head coach, I received a very short call from Marc Canham, and he informed me that that my contract as assistant coach would not be renewed,” said Healy in a statement released two hours before the FAI unveil Carla Ward as the new Republic of Ireland women’s manager. The former Aston Villa boss will be assisted by Alan Mahon and Emma Byrne.
“The news came as a shock, as only a few weeks before the same man verbally assured me his recommendation to the board would be that my contract should be extended alongside Eileen,” said Healy. “This previous conversation took place prior to the playoff game against Wales, when I was offered the position of Cobh Ramblers manager and needed to make a decision on my future.”
Canham and FAI chief executive David Courell are due before the media at 2pm but Healy also revealed that Courell contacted him on December 12th to wish him well, presuming that the 44-year-old had left the Association by his own volition.
“It was important to me that the squad members knew that I had not chosen to leave, given the respect and loyalty I felt towards every single one of them,” Healy’s statement continued. “On the morning of 12 December 2024, I received a text from FAI CEO, David Courell – who I believe to be a very decent man – sincerely thanking me for my time with the association. But rather surprisingly, David also expressed genuine sorrow that it had been communicated to him that I had made the decision not to continue, whilst also being very clear that the FAI would have welcomed an opportunity for me to continue my work with them. By reply I informed David that it was not my decision to leave and that I was, in fact, let go.”
Cobh announced Gary Hunt as their new manager on December 13th.
Senior Ireland players Denise O’Sullivan and Caitlin Hayes took to social media last month to express disappointment about Healy not continuing as Ireland assistant coach in 2025.
Ward takes over immediately with preparations underway for the Nations League opener against Turkey in Tallaght on February 21st, but Healy’s current family and professional situations bring the FAI under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, yet again.
“I have taken some time over Christmas to allow the dust to settle,” he continued. “The last year has been the toughest of my life, given that I lost my wife, Kelly, so I did not want to make any decision on how to progress with this issue while emotional. But it has been over a month since I was relieved of my responsibilities at the FAI, and the nature of my treatment still feels completely unacceptable.
FAI chief football officer Marc Canham. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
“Marc Canham was aware that the Cobh opportunity offered me long-term employment at a really progressive club. The position also allowed me combine my coaching career with my duties as a single father to my two young children, at a club close to my home in Cork.
“Although I loved working with the WNT and felt a huge loyalty to the staff and to the players, given my family situation, the financial certainty the Cobh position offered felt irresponsible to ignore. I eventually made the decision to stay with the WNT, and allowed my heart to rule my head based on the confidence Marc Canham shown that I’d continue to work with the FAI beyond my contract expiration.
“I am not naive and have been in football a very long time, coaches lose their jobs, which is just the harsh reality of sport” said Healy, who won 13 caps for Ireland before managing Cork City men from 2020 to 2023.
“But there is a way to behave and a way to treat people. I feel the treatment I received lacked transparency and compassion, and that there was a total disregard shown toward my welfare as an employee – a reality that now sees me out of work, and affects my ability to provide for my children.
“Furthermore, I do not understand how David Courell, in his position as CEO, could have been under the initial impression that I had chosen to leave the association, when that was never the case – something I find particularly unsettling.
“In my opinion, the behaviour I have experienced is completely contrary to the message of respect that the FAI purport.
“With that in mind, it is my intention to make a formal complaint to the Director of People and Culture at the FAI in relation to my treatment while an employee. It is my belief that this issue should be investigated as a matter of urgency, and I hope that the lessons learned will ensure that the future conduct of people within leadership roles at the FAI is aligned with the principles of their own welfare and ethics directives, which are designed to protect all affiliates under their care.
“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Denise O’Sullivan and all of the players who reached out to support me upon hearing the facts of my treatment, while also making their feelings known to the FAI. I feel I owe a debt of gratitude to these players that I can never repay.
“When Kelly passed away, my children and I decided that I should go back to work quickly so we could find some form of normality. Football has been a huge part of our lives for as long as we can remember. My work with the staff and players helped me get through my toughest days. Their support enabled me to find a peace of mind which allowed me give the best version of myself to my children when they needed me.”