FAI set to respond to Vera Pauw criticism

The FAI are due to hold a press conference on Thursday to respond to claims made by former Republic of Ireland women's national manager Vera Pauw that she was undermined in her role.

Reports of a scheduled press conference from the FAI led to speculation that it would address Stephen Kenny and the men’s team, however RTÉ understands that this in not the case and Pauw’s exit and subsequent statements will be the focus.

Last month the FAI decided not to renew Pauw’s contract despite her leading the women’s team to their first ever major tournament in this summer’s World Cup.

The decision came after the FAI received a full report on the team's World Cup qualification campaign and the tournament itself.

However, speaking to RTÉ Sport last week, Pauw claimed that report was highly flawed.

Pauw strongly criticised the FAI's process when conducting the review and claimed that some of her staff turned on her in the final weeks of her tenure.

"That review was done by the technical director," said Pauw. "He's not trained to make reviews and he was part of the process, so the assignment on the technical director is something that...to do a review, immediately starting, while still in camp after the Nigeria game, is something you cannot reflect.

"The evaluation has not been done, and he started with my assistant. First my assistant, then the communications manager, and I came in as the third person.

"I felt immediately that my assistant had set the benchmark with things that were absolutely ridiculous. For example he said there was no communication, we did not discuss things. Every morning we had a staff meeting and every single detail of my task was discussed, from the setup of the training sessions to the game plan, the strategies."

The