Former Republic of Ireland manager Sue Ronan believes the FAI have made a good call in appointing the "highly thought of" Carla Ward as the new head coach of the Girls in Green.
The former Sheffield United, Birmingham City and Aston Villa manager was announced as the person who will grasp the senior team reins with an eye to trying to help Ireland qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport, former Ireland boss Ronan highlighted Ward's credentials from her previous roles as well as her connection to USA and former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes.
"I know she's very highly thought of in the English game," she said.
"I think she's one of a cohort of maybe four or five young coaches that have come up and done their coaching education and I think actually Emma Hayes does a little bit of mentoring with them on the side in her own time.
"From what I gather, she's very well thought of. She has had experience in a couple of clubs. She was at Birmingham when there were issues off the field alright - I think she had just come in and then there were issues in terms of the club but they got on with it and I think at the end of that year, she might have been one of the nominees for coach of the year.
"So she seemed to do well and was able to put those issues behind her and get the players onside and playing well, regardless of what was going on around them so she seems to be a good appointment."
Ward has already got a glimpse at off the field issues in the Irish game since being announced as the new head coach earlier this week.
Part of her introductory press conference was dominated by a difference of opinion between the FAI and Eileen Gleeson's former assistant coach Colin Healy about the manner in which his involvement in the senior set-up came to an end.
Ronan said she felt sorry for the new manager that many of the questions related to a matter that preceded her arrival, but added that Ward had experience of dealing with off-the-field issues in some of her previous jobs in England.
"As she said, that's nothing to do with her, she just has to put it to the back of her mind and move forward," she said.
"It's just unfortunate that it has overshadowed Carla's appointment on what should be a big day and a big occasion for her.
"But I think Carla gave a good answer. She said, 'Look, this is football, I'm used to having issues in every club I've worked in', and that probably is the case but it is just unfortunate."
Ward will take charge of her first game on 21 February when Ireland begin their 2025 Nations League campaign against Turkey in League B.
"I think certainly getting out of League B is absolutely a minimum," said Ronan, who pointed out that Ireland proved to be a cut above Europe's second tier based on the last Nations League campaign.
"We're sort of in that middle tier. We're not quite the top 16 in Europe which is where we want to be to qualify for the Euros.
"We're sort of on the fringes of that but we're definitely too strong for the teams in League B so I think that shouldn't be a problem.
"Qualification for the World Cup, that's her remit I guess and that is the remit when you're a national team coach.
"You need to get results, you need to get qualification. It's always going to be tough, it's even tougher to qualify for a World Cup as we know than it is for a Euros.
"We don't know what the qualification format will be yet, it seems to change every tournament. It's going to be a tall order, it's not going to be easy but I think we have to aim for it.
"We absolutely have to aim for it and I know the players will be gutted that we didn't get to the Euros and we want a team that consistently qualifies for finals because the more they qualify, the easier it will get.
Ronan added: "So that's something she definitely should target and I'm glad to hear that she is."
