Interim Northern Ireland Women’s team manager Andy Waterworth has stressed the importance of finding the right person for the job, as he looks to step down from his role. Waterworth has enjoyed his experience as manager, but believes that the Irish FA need to take their time to find the right person to move the team forward. Sarah McFadden echoed his comments, adding that they would be happy for Waterworth to remain as interim manager for the next window in June if it led to the right long-term appointment.
Despite a heavy defeat in their first game since November, Waterworth was optimistic about the future of the team. He was impressed by the character of the players and believes that the result can help propel them into success. He also noted that the Welsh team, who are made up of full-time players, had an advantage as they had played three matches in the Pinatar Cup in Spain.
Waterworth believes that the team need more time together to progress ahead of the start of the inaugural women’s Nations League in the autumn. He has suggested that preparation camps are essential for the team to get together and experiment with different strategies. He believes that this is something that Northern Ireland have not had in the past and is something that he will take back to the association.
Ultimately, Waterworth is keen to stress that the Irish FA need to take their time to find the right person for the job. He believes that this is essential in order to create a legacy and move the country forward. He is confident that with more preparation camps and time together, the team can progress and achieve success in the future.