Damien Duff: 'I stand with Colin - that’s all I want to say on the matter'

Damien Duff insists he stands with his former teammate Colin Healy, agreeing that the Corkman has been mistreated by the FAI.

Healy recently revealed he’d been assured of continuity in his role as assistant manager of the Ireland women’s team before himself and Eileen Gleeson were relieved of their duties eight days after the Euro playoff defeat to Wales in December.

Marc Canham, the FAI’s chief football officer, has denied the claim, adamant no ‘absolute guarantee’ was provided to Healy.

Duff and Healy were part of the same Ireland squad in the noughties and would have been at the 2002 World Cup together only for the deadline to replace Roy Keane to pass.

“First and foremost, I think Colin is utter class,” said Duff, who as Shelbourne manager sparred with Healy when he was on the other bench as Cork City boss in 2023.

“I don’t say that about many people. He’s just a class, class guy and has been let down a few times over his career - back in the day with the World Cup and Saipan.

“It’s all sliding doors moments in football. I know what’s gone on (with the FAI) and I know he’s been let down. I know he’s been treated unfairly.

“I stand with Colin - that’s all I want to say on the matter. Brilliant guy, classy guy, and he’s been let down.” Duff has long been a critic of the FAI’s operations, lessening his sense of shock at this latest unseemly episode.

“Did I pick up the paper and go ‘wow, Jesus, I can’t believe that happened’? No, I didn’t” he admitted.

“I read the headline and didn’t need to read the rest because I wasn’t surprised. It wasn’t hard to figure out what’s gone on. There is nothing for me to rabbit on about.” Meanwhile, Duff and his assistant Joey O’Brien last week spurned an approach from a “big club in England”.

He begins his fourth year as standalone senior manager on Friday fortnight, starting the season defending the title they won last November.

Based in Wicklow with his wife Elaine and children Woody and Darcy, Duff has no intention of emulating his former teammate Robbie Keane by managing abroad – in the foreseeable future anyway.

His strides at Shels, where he elevated the team from a promoted side into FAI Cup finalists, European qualifiers and eventually champions over three years have attracted suitors abroad.

The latest came last week, via his sidekick and another former Ireland colleague, O’Brien.

“I’ve had a couple of approaches, through people or whatever,” Duff confessed..

“Joey rang me last week after a big club in England had rang him to see if I was interested.

“We didn’t even have the conversation, just got back onto Shels.

“Anybody could ring me, anybody. I’m not just saying it for the sake of it or to think ‘oh, he’s a good guy’.

“I honestly just want to stay here. I’m surrounded by brilliant people. Am I coming in cranky every day? Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love them. I’ve no plans to go anywhere, believe it or not.

“I’ve travelled the world, living in Melbourne, Glasgow and spent most of my life in England.

“I’ve had some amazing moments and achievements in my life, achievements but by far the number one at home here, - winning the league in the Brandywell.

“Sometimes you don’t need to travel to get the most amazing feeling in the world. Do I see myself anytime soon?

“No. I’ve got a beautiful wife and kids here, my daughter is still in 6th Class. As long as people want me in the league, I will be here. I’m not going anywhere regardless of somebody wanting me.” On top of his passion for Shelbourne, Duff has become the unofficial advocate for the league, using his profile to call out the hierarchy with FAI and plead with the Government to invest.

“My duty here is to my family first, to Shelbourne, but also to the league because I haven’t done it just for quotes or to be heard,” he explained.

“I’ve fought for the league and I’m going to continue to do it and I’m passionate about it, and I want it to grow.

“I absolutely believe that it’s the most inspiring thing in Irish football at the minute, absolutely head and shoulders above our national team and I’ve no plans to go away.

“In six, eight, nine, 10 years’ time, possibly I might go away because I love seeing the world.

“I just met our women’s player Jemma Quinn and she said she spent a month in Sri Lanka on her own, not even with anybody.

“I love that and she’s my new hero. That’s seeing the world, but you’re stuck with me for the time being.”

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