IRELAND BOSS Eileen Gleeson has rejected claims there is a โdisconnectโ between the national team and the Womenโs Premier Division.
The Dubliner says she has been an advocate for the domestic game for more than 30 years and has selected three Womenโs Premier Division players in her latest squad โ Katie Keane (Athlone Town), Eva Mangan (Cork City) and Julie-Ann Russell (Galway United) โ ahead of the upcoming two-legged Euro 2025 Qualifying Play-Off against Georgia.
Gleeson replied to claims from Athlone boss Ciarรกn Kilduff, who suggested that โno connectionโ exists between the Womenโs Premier Division and the national team.
โI donโt think itโs a disconnect, we contact clubs and weโre linking about their players,โ the Irish boss said. โMy role is about the senior national team, and if we need to engage in the communication we do, whether thatโs me, whether thatโs part of the technical staff, whether itโs the performance coach.โ
One source of frustration among some in the league has been the scrapping of home-based sessions โ a measure introduced by former manager Colin Bell and carried on (albeit to a lesser extent) by Vera Pauw.
These sessions allowed amateur domestic players to train in a professional environment and bolster their chances of an international call-up.
There is now a plan to develop a U23 Irish team to bridge the chasms in levels that exist between the current U19 team and the senior side.
Outlining the reasons for ditching the home-based sessions, Gleeson said: โWe believe we can be better in terms of talent management, we can be much more specific with our high potential players.
โNobody is in any disagreement that we do need u23s and we do need to capture post u19s. Iโve been the biggest advocate of this and we all know where the gaps are. Thatโs what weโre looking for.
โI hear home sessions being exalted, but itโs the same people that were annihilating them when they were on who are exalting them now. So in principle, having something there to fill that pathway is critical.โ
The Irish manager said the idea is being โdevelopedโ and explained there is no definitive timeline for when these plans might come to fruition.
Asked whether the cash-strapped Football Association of Ireland didnโt have the funds to accommodate a U23 team, Gleeson responded: โAt the moment, it is all being developed so I have no specifics to give you.โ
Pressed on the issue of FAI finances, the former Peamount and DLR Waves coach continued: โWe are always calling on government support, it is one of our main sources of funding. But it is also about getting creative about how we do things and doing things the best way to facilitate the talented League Of Ireland player.
โObjectively, there are differences to the levels that these players play at, there are different contact times, there is a different intensity to the games. The benchmarks and the outputs from League of Ireland games to WSL (the Womenโs Super League in England) games are incredible and that is where we need to develop the most suitable programme that can enhance that playerโs level and give them the best opportunity to make the national team.โ
Been long overdue . Hopefully clubs get behind this . If they donโt they will be left behind . Itโs time for football to move forward .
Why are they starting it in august and having a mini season?
It is a good idea in principle. Iโm not sure if non-league clubs will be interested though as it will put extra financial burden on them.
@Joe OโRegan: I guess a dry run
Will we ever see an All Ireland League?
@Der Calnan: hope not
@patsfan1166: only thing that will save both leagues long term, and drive audiences (Grounds & TV). 2/3 of the best teams on the island are South of the border, and the gap between top of LOI & IL and bottom teams is usually massive. A two tier All Island League with twelve fully pro in the Prem (competing for decent prize money) and 18 semi pro teams split into North & South Divisions is the way forward..
Hahaha
Why would clubs be interested? Although itโs regionalised it would mean Cork clubs travelling to Limerick and Tipperary and vice versa. Expense would mount up
What would happen to the Munster senior league and the various leagues around the country