Questions answered, more linger as FAI look to the future

It was an overdue briefing with the media, and the FAI's CEO Jonathan Hill and director of football Marc Canham both ackowledged that when they sat down at the association's HQ in Blanchardstown.

Time, finally, to address the herd of elephants that's been grazing in the room for the last month.

Since Hill last spoke on the record in June to unveil the FAI's long-term strategic vision, Ireland have played in their first ever women's World Cup, parted ways with the manager who got them there, and lost three crucial games in the men's Euros qualification campaign. There was an awful lot to unpack.

On top of that, Ireland will soon find out if their joint bid with the UK to host Euro 2028 has been successful, with the Aviva Stadium and a redeveloped Casement Park mooted to host games.

So where to start?

Hill used a chunk of his opening address to deal with some of the claims made by Vera Pauw following the FAI's decision not to renew her contract last month.

"There was absolutely no interference in the technical affairs of this team, we did not present a formal contract offer pre the World Cup, we did conduct a full and through review of the campaign, the outcome of which was not pre-determined," said Hill.

"The manager had her views and believed in her approach. A number of players, and indeed Marc, simply had a different position. And what we are saying then in simple terms is that we genuinely believe that in order to propel the next phase of growth for this team, and women's and girls' football in Ireland more broadly, we feel we need a different and fresh approach."

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