Colin Healy. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Colin Healy is set to press ahead with a formal complaint over the FAI’s handling of his departure from the role of Ireland women’s assistant boss after Abbotstown attempts to resolve the matter privately this week failed to reach an amicable conclusion.
Healy went public over his issues with the FAI by releasing a statement after the appointment of Carla Ward as Eileen Gleeson’s successor which raised questions about his treatment during the process of changing management.
The 44-year-old claimed that he received verbal assurances around his future from chief football officer Marc Canham ahead of the playoff loss with Wales which influenced Healy’s call to turn down a managerial job at Cobh Ramblers.
His unhappiness at the FAI’s subsequent decision to let him go intensified when he received a message from CEO David Courell which – according to Healy – appeared to suggest that he was leaving of his own accord for another opportunity at Kerry FC.
Canham and Courell said last week that Healy misunderstood their interactions and had not been given any guarantees.
The FAI’s People and Culture director Aoife Rafferty met Healy face-to-face on Monday for discussion about the matter and that led to further conversations across the week involving his representatives.
However, it’s understood that they have not succeeded in easing tensions with Healy standing over his initial comments and looking for a public apology with the Corkman also deeply unhappy with aspects of the press conference.
In the social media statement released through Integrity Sports, Healy said that he was planning to make a formal complaint to the FAI via Rafferty and he is now preparing to instigate that process although the fact that the HR head has already been involved might impact on the direction of the next move with the former international’s camp keen for an independent assessment of the dispute.
Healy received public support from players in the wake of his exit from the set-up that was only communicated by Canham in the minutes before a statement that outlined that Gleeson wasn’t being retained.
Denise O’Sullivan was vocal again last week, praising Healy’s abilities as a coach in response to his lengthy statement that also touched on the emotion of a difficult year personally after the passing of his wife Kelly last April.
In response to queries from the Irish Independent about the state of play with Healy, an FAI spokesman said: “The Association does not discuss details of any individual’s contract or their status.”
