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Republic of Ireland under Carla Ward are hoping to return to League A of the Nations League Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward said that the quicker "outside noise" surrounding the Football Association Ireland [FAI] is eradicated the better. During her press conference on Monday, Ward was repeatedly asked about allegations of gender discrimination made by former head coach Eileen Gleeson and her own perception of support afforded to the women's team. A report in the Irish Independent published in August said that court documents showed Gleeson had accused the governing body of treating her and her backroom staff unfairly because of their gender. Gleeson's legal team also allege the senior women's team did not have the same travel, security, medical and performance support afforded to the men's team. The FAI said it would prepare a "strong legal defence" in response to allegations and Ward was keen to steer attention towards the Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Belgium rather than ongoing issues about the association. "The more we can talk about football the more I can focus on my job, " she said. "The resources and standards we have right now impact this week, but we're talking about a bigger piece. The bigger piece is how we improve standards across the board in the organisation and how do we ensure our focus is football. "That is critical because I would say since I've come into the job, 80% hasn't been football. "Football is what we're paid for and need to be judged for. I'm going to be judged on results, so the quicker we can talk about football the better. " Finn and Ziu back in Republic of Ireland squad Ward said she was "happy" in the job, but that constant questioning about such issues have had an impact on her. "Of course, outside noise takes your focus away. I can't sit and say it doesn't bother me, it does but that's life, " she continued. She added that she has spoken to the FAI about the need for improvement and that she has had conversations with Gleeson about some of the concerns the 53-year-old had raised. "How we try to sort them [issues]? I'm going to have to try drive change. Eileen has brought to attention things she has encountered; I can only bring forward what I encounter. "Are there some similarities? Yes. Are there some things we're still working through? Yes. "So, like I said we're constantly trying to move forward, and the FAI have been receptive to trying to create change and it's important we try do that, but this week is about camp. " O'Sullivan has returned to fitness following a knee injury sustained in August Against Belgium, Republic of Ireland will be competing for a place in League A, a move which would improve their seeding for the 2027 Women's World Cup qualifiers. The Belgians sit 20th in the Fifa women's world rankings, seven places above the Irish. Ward is without first choice goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, who misses out on the two-legged play-off with a knee problem. Grace Moloney and Sophie Whitehouse have both been playing regularly for Sunderland and Charlton Athletic in the WSL 2 and Ward believes there is a "big question mark" over who will start in Friday's first leg at the Aviva Stadium. "Grace and Sophie are in good form from a data point of view, they're top two in the WSL 2 right now, " she explained. "They're both playing and performing and they are very different. Honestly, that's not been decided yet [who will start], there are some conversations to be had. " Former Aston Villa boss Ward has been boosted by the return to fitness of Denise O'Sullivan, who came on for the last 20 minutes of North Carolina Courage's 4-1 win over Bay FC at the weekend, her first game since suffering a knee injury in August. "To have her back in is huge not just on the pitch, off the pitch, she is phenomenal, " Ward said of the 125-capped midfielder. "On the pitch, I would argue she is one of the best players I have ever worked with as a pro and everything she does. "To lose Denise would be catastrophic. I can't tell you how happy I am to have her back. " Premier League: West Ham host Brentford in Nuno's first home match as boss Rangers end head coach search by appointing Rohl Forest in advanced talks to appoint Dyche Rooney's reaction to Manchester United’s win over Liverpool How Snapchat's co-founder became a billionaire at 25 Can lessons be learnt from recent plane crashes? 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