MARC Canham has attempted to clarify Carla Ward’s eyebrow-raising claim made on The Late Late Show.
While joking about Packie Bonner cutting a ‘terrifying’ presence during the interview process, she mentioned that he’d been the only one of SEVEN FAI figures to quiz her with football-related questions.
She and Heimir Hallgrimsson spoke to Patrick Kielty on the RTE flagship show on March 7[/caption]
The 41-year-old recalled: “It was seven people around the desk. And everyone was quite nice so you can kind of be yourself.
“Then it came to Packie and you’re thinking ‘Oh my God, what is he going to say?’ Like, you’ve got to be careful.
“And yeah, he was terrifying. He really was. But in a good way because he was probably the only one that was talking football right?
“It was probably the same with you (at which point she glanced over to a nodding Heimir).
“He did hammer me a little bit on heritage – or my lack thereof.”
The notion that the Italia 90 was the sole FAI representative to hone in on footballing matters struck many viewers as odd.
So when Canham engaged in his first media briefing for months on Monday, he was questioned about her version of events.
According to The 42’s Gavin Cooney, however, that doesn’t tally with Canham’s memory of the Association’s recruitment process.
Canham instead stated: “When you’re sat down around a table, whether it’s in person or online, you have different people there asking questions.
“Naturally myself and Packie took a lead from a football perspective and in the scenario that was referred to, the line of questioning was tough but Carla did a good job, but I was also in the room talking about football.
“But other people made up of the board and executives took a lead on leadership, communication and stakeholder management.
“That is really normal for an interview process.”
The director of football further assured fans that Bonner isn’t as wholly responsible for the hiring of new head coaches as Ward had made it sound.
He added: “The board and the executive team work closely together.
“I take the lead on football areas of the business and there are other structures inside the business that looks after the different areas of the business.
“It’s really important for the board and the executive and all the FAI staff to work together so that conversation is regular.
“We have monthly updates at board meetings and we continue to do that.
“Ultimately I take the lead role in terms of football direction and matters and decisions for the association.”
HEALY MESS
Unfortunately this isn’t even the most high-profile instance of a prominent figure having a different version of events from their dealings with the FAI of late.
Yesterday also saw the Englishman express regret at how Colin Healy’s departure was handled.
The former Ireland assistant, whose wife Kelly passed away last April, went public in January accusing the FAI of reneging on an agreement to keep him on even if Eileen Gleeson was replaced, and saying he would lodge a complaint over his treatment.
That mediation is ongoing.
Canham, 42, said: “From a personal and association perspective, it’s deeply regrettable.
“I have personally never had that feedback, in my personal or professional life, to say you dealt with something with a lack of respect, empathy or compassion.
“That’s something I’ve always tried to do speaking to people, whether that’s someone in the corridor or formally.
“So that’s disappointing, for me and the association, that’s regrettable that someone who left the association felt that strength of feeling and was so hurt by that process.
“I have deep sympathy for his own personal situation of course. It’s really regrettable that it played out the way that it did.
“From a football perspective, I stand by the process and decisions. No assurances or guarantees were given to him or his representative.
“Colin’s contract came to a natural end. It was the end of his contract and we had discussions not to renew that contract.
“That’s pretty normal in football but I stress the real regret and disappointment from a human perspective but we stand by the football process.”
