Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward has dismissed speculation linking her to a return to the Women's Super League, stating her complete focus is on guiding her team to the Women's World Cup. Ward, who took over in January 2025, is reportedly linked with the vacant manager position at her former club, Aston Villa.
Ward emphasised her commitment, saying, "Nothing is tempting when I'm in this job, you know I love this job and I love working here." She added, "My heart and my focus, I came here to try and get to a World Cup and that's all I'm going to think about for the next four games."
The Republic of Ireland is set to play Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifying play-off, with the first leg scheduled for Friday, 9 October, at the Astana Arena. A successful progression would lead to a two-legged final against either Belgium or Poland. Ward will need to navigate the initial tie without several key players, including captain Katie McCabe and Marissa Sheva, who are suspended for the first leg. Denise O'Sullivan is also unavailable, while Tara O'Hanlon and Saoirse Noonan are out with injuries.
Despite the absences, Ward expressed confidence in her squad. "No matter who plays, naturally when you take the likes of Katie and Denise out of your team, they're two big leaders but that's an opportunity for players to step up," she stated. Crystal Palace midfielder Shanade Hopcroft has received her first call-up to the squad.