Carla Ward knows that her time as the Republic of Ireland manager will be measured by one metric – securing a spot at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
That path must begin by securing promotion from the Nations League B division. Turkey visit Tallaght on Friday week before a difficult trip to Slovenia four days later, with each result impacting Ireland’s seeding ahead of next year’s convoluted qualifiers.
Ward’s experiences as manager of Birmingham City and Aston Villa armed the English woman with one certainty; a job of this magnitude requires her own backroom team.
The FAI met the 41-year-old’s ambition with Irish players to be welcomed into camp on Sunday evening by new coaches in Alan Mahon and Amber Whiteley.
Mahon is a former Ireland international who brings home a decade of coaching at Manchester City while Whiteley will double job as an assistant to Liverpool manager Matt Beard.
“Amber is very good tactically,” said Ward. “She’s the opposite to me; I’m an extrovert as you can probably tell. She is little bit more of an introvert. That is important to have those type of people around you.
“She has an exceptional track record in developing players. Ask the Irish players she has worked with, she is very well respected within the game.”
Liverpool striker Leanne Kiernan could be an immediate beneficiary of Whiteley’s presence.
It’s not all change. Emma Byrne is retained as goalkeeper coach and former Brazil performance expert Ivi Casagrande will continue her valued role in camp.
“Naturally, my neck is on the block, right?” said Ward. “If I lose games, it’s going to be me that’s going to get the sack!
“So I look after the tactical side. That’s really important. Alan has qualities in possession, in how we’re going to play. Amber has qualities from the back up, in how we’re going to build.
“But collectively we are all on the same page. Emma Byrne is there and we are a very tight-knit four and a four that will work well together on everything. Ultimately, it will be my final say and I will look after the bigger picture.”
The Abbotstown pitches will be a hive of activity next Wednesday when Ward delivers what her predecessor Eileen Gleeson was unable to get over the line, as the previously shelved development squad plays a trial match against Dave Connell’s Ireland under-19s.
Last year FAI chief executive David Courell revealed that financial constraints had led to a severing of formal ties between home-based players and Ireland coaches.
“That development group will be really important,” said Ward. “For this camp we have the under-19s and the development group side by side with us. We’ve manipulated the schedule so I’ll be able to oversee that as well.”
The development squad includes Ellen Molloy, a 20-year-old midfielder with six caps and enormous potential despite her recent return to Wexford from Sheffield United.
Also, two teenagers, Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Katie Keane and Peamount midfielder Jess Fitzgerald, will train with the senior panel.
“I would like to see [development squads] being permanent,” Ward added. “There is untapped talent in this country so it’s about finding some gems. There are plenty of them.”
The manager also addressed concerns over the way Gleeson’s assistant coach Colin Healy was released from his employment in December 2024. His departure was publicly criticised by both Denise O’Sullivan and Caitlin Hayes.
“I am very okay with difficult conversations and addressing the elephant in the room. They [O’Sullivan and Hayes] understand I will support them.
“My job is to get them focused on moving forward and that is exactly what they are going to do. My focus is this camp and winning football matches.”
Ward admitted to being “gutted” about the retirements of Julie-Ann Russell, Diane Caldwell and Niamh Fahey, but she is adamant that the currently injured Louise Quinn and clubless Ruesha Littlejohn will play key roles in 2025.
“Ruesha is not considering retirement. She probably did question it and I said ‘don’t you dare yet!’ because I still think she has a lot to offer.”
Ward holds an affinity for Littlejohn, who was recently released by London City Lionesses, signing her twice at club level while knowing she can barely train on a troublesome Achillies tendon injury.
“Listen, Ruesha is someone that you need to have in your dressing room. Some of you may or may not know her personality as well as I do but she is somebody who really brings a dressing room together.
“People admire her, she is one hundred per cent and she is somebody who if not in the team will do what she can to look after the rest of the players. She is huge for me, she was at Birmingham and Villa and I’m sure she will be here as well.”
Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Unattached).
Defenders: Heather Payne (Everton), Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland – on loan from West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses), Katie McCabe (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (Unattached), Marissa Sheva (Unattached), Melisa Filis (Charlton Athletic).
Forwards: Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United).
Uefa Nations League B, Group 2
Friday, February 21st
Ireland v Turkey
Tallaght Stadium, 7.30pm (RTÉ2/RTÉ Player)
Tuesday, February 25th
Slovenia v Ireland
Bonifika Stadium, Koper, 5pm (RTÉ2/RTÉ Player)
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