McCABE FOCUS SOLELY ON GAMES

REPUBLIC of Ireland manager Colin Bell and captain Katie McCabe insist the squad’s sole focus is on their crucial upcoming World Cup qualifying double header. Bell’s charges face Slovakia at Tallaght Stadium on Friday evening before welcoming European champions The Netherlands to the same venue on Tuesday night, but The Irish Daily Mail revealed on Monday how the squad were ‘deeply disappointed’ with Bell and the FAI for a statement to sister publication the Irish Mail on Sunday regarding a recent training camp at Fota Island. The squad earned just €50 each of the nine days in Cork and did not receive their €300 match-fee for a game against Cork City Under 15 boys’ team at the conclusion of the camp. While Bell said in his statement to the Irish Mail on Sunday that the fee had been waived with agreement from McCabe, the Ireland captain explained yesterday why she had kept her counsel. ‘I was asked to comment on it and chose not to,’ McCabe (pictured) admitted regarding Bell’s statement. ‘My job is to lead the team to two massive results as captain, I do my leading on the pitch, not in the papers. ‘Like all relationships it’s a growing relationship and that’s what it has continued to do. ‘There isn’t any issue. Our sole focus here is on getting results on the pitch and putting in performances in Tallaght on Friday and Tuesday, in regard to the other situation there is no problem.’ Ireland are joint top of Group 3 with the Dutch and Bell added: ‘The truth is I spoke about all this to Katie. It was her job, as captain, to communicate that to the team. Nobody would have expected to have any payment for a training session against the boys’ team. Whoever thinks this, well I’m sorry, they’re strange thoughts. ‘There is no dispute. I never lie to my players. We talk about everything.’