MCCABE READY TO TALK TO FAI

KATIE MCCABE says she would be willing to take a call from the FAI ahead of the appointment of a new permanent Ireland manager.

However, the Arsenal and Girls in Green ace doesn’t expect director of football Marc Canham to be canvassing players on the merits of one candidate over another.

An appointment will be made before Christmas, with the new boss coming in ahead of next year’s Euro 2025 qualifiers.

They will be taking over a side that has easily topped their Nations League group, winning promotion to League A and securing a play-off, if needed, for the Euros.

Mccabe isn’t anticipating a call, but says: “I’m always here, but it’s up to them. I don’t know.

“Look, it’s up to the FAI. Like I said, I’m always here to help and chat, but it’s their decision at the end of the day, I’m not in charge, I’m the player.”

Interim boss Eileen Gleeson (inset) appears to have softened her initial stance that her appointment was strictly a short-term one – but ultimately it’s down to Canham to make the appointment.

Mccabe (above) spoke in the wake of Friday’s 1-0 win over Hungary of the team – in the post-vera Pauw and World Cup era – being a work in progress. Would the skipper have any concerns about a new manager coming in and wanting to start again from scratch? “We’re just fixed on what we are trying to do now,” she replied.

“Eileen is in charge, we’ve got Emma (Byrne), we’ve got Colin (Healy), we’ve got great staff around us, and that’s what we’re thinking about.

“We are obviously going to dissect the Hungary performance and prepare again for Tuesday against Northern Ireland.

“I’m not thinking ahead, we are where we are right now and it’s up to the FAI to obviously make a decision in the next few weeks.

“It will be a big 2024 with a lot of competition

“It’s exciting. I don’t think we are in a bad position at all. It’s going to be a really massive 2024 and we need to be prepared.”