Paul Corry feels that Vera Pauw was hard done by in not having her contract renewed, given her achievement in leading the Republic of Ireland to a competitive showing at their first ever Women's World Cup.
The FAI announced on Tuesday night that the Dutch woman would not be offered a new deal, despite overseeing a first major tournament qualification in her four years in charge.
Ireland took one point in Group B at last month's tournament, drawing 0-0 against Nigeria, whose only defeat was on penalties to England, and losing by a goal to the much higher-ranked Canada and hosts Australia.
"I think Vera can find herself very unfortunate," the RTÉ Soccer analyst said.
"When you boil it down and look at the performances that the squad has had, the progression that we've had...
"Qualifying for the World Cup, the performances we had against Australia, Nigeria and Canada, they’re top nations. We were in no way blown away by those countries and I think the performances and progression we have seen under Vera, the results stand to her.
"I think she has done a really good job and this is not a decision that has been based on the results or the performances of the team."
Paul Corry reflects on the FAI's decision not to offer Vera Pauw a new contract as Ireland manager. pic.twitter.com/mL4K6h0Swg
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For Corry, Pauw's departure comes down to having apparently lost the dressing room.
"This has boiled down to the relationship between Vera and the playing squad.
"I don't think there has been a huge amount of support from players within the squad since the World Cup coming out to back Vera Pauw.
"There has obviously been something boiling between her and the squad for a long period of time now.
"Relationships seem to have broken down between the players and Vera."
However, former Ireland international, Méabh de Búrca told RTÉ Sport: "I don't think it was player power specifically, it could be a combination of different things and the right time to part ways in the FAI's opinion.
"I know a lot of people refer to it as a sacking but her contract was up and at the end of the day it was whether it would be renewed or not.
"The FAI took their time and, like they said they would, did a thorough review of the World Cup and all that and at the end of the day made the decision that they felt was correct.
"There was possibly a lot going on behind the scenes that we don't know about. It was telling that the contract negotiations had started and then kind of ceased when the allegations resurfaced on the eve of the France friendly before the World Cup.
"From the outside it seemed that from that point, the contract negotiations ended until after the World Cup."
De Burca expects that Ireland will challenge for Euro 2025 qualification and believes the job of Pauw's successor is an "attractive prospect".
"Obviously they have big boots to fill, in that we have now qualified for a first major tournament. That expectation will be there, and that we will try to get to the Euros in Switzerland.
"I think there will be a lot of interest in the role."
