No issues for Mahon in regard to potential Healy return
Assistant coach Colin Healy during a Republic of Ireland Women's training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Alan Mahon would have no issue if Colin Healy returns to the Ireland fold to join the managerial staff.
Last week, manager Carla Ward revealed she’d be amenable to discussing a vacancy with Healy on the backroom team if, as expected, Amber Whiteley, is appointed as permanent Liverpool boss.
As it transpires, Whiteley isn’t part of this camp due to passport issues preventing her travelling to Dublin on Monday.
She was only due to be involved for the first game in Greece, due to her commitments as caretaker boss at Pool in the lead-up to their FA Cup semi-final at Chelsea on Saturday week.
The FAI’s head of Women and Girls' Football, Hannah Dingley, has been drafted in to replace Whitely for the double header.
Cork native Healy is in dispute with the FAI over the manner of his exit in December. He claimed the promise of a contract extension was made in advance of the Euro playoff against Wales, which Ireland lost 3-2 on aggregate.
“Not a problem at all,” said fellow assistant Mahon, also a former Ireland midfielder, about the prospect of Healy returning to assist.
“I've heard good things about Colin. I've never met him myself, I know of him but there wouldn't be an issue on my side or Carla's side, to be honest.”
Meanwhile, Everton’s Heather Payne is a major doubt for the Uefa Nations League fixture in Greece on Friday.
She sustained an ankle injury during the Toffees’ 2-0 defeat to Manchester United, meaning the best that can be expected is a return in time for Tuesday’s rematch at Tallaght.
“It’s a quick turnaround so maybe it's best that she just stays out of this just so there's no long-term stuff,” said Mahon about Payne’s absence from training at windswept Abbotstown ahead of their flight to the Mediterranean.
“I think that was more the inkling. Whether she's available for the second game, that's down to the medics and how she reacts over the next couple of days really.
Ward’s era began with a narrow 1-0 win over Turkey before they were thumped 4-0 away to Slovenia a few days later.
Top seeds Ireland face a tight over the remaining four matches to win the group and regain their place in the top tier of European nations for the 2027 World Cup qualifiers beginning next February.
