THE fast-changing world of women’s football saw another landmark being reached with the transfer of Denise O’Sullivan to Houston Dash from Glasgow City. Note the word “transfer”.

The move, for an undisclosed four-figure sum, marks the first time a Scottish women’s club has received compensation for a player. That’s because the Republic of Ireland internationalist – she was named FAI Player of the Year last Sunday – was on a professional contract which wasn’t due to expire until the end of the year.

The majority of players in the SWPL, and also at City, are on amateur registrations. Because of this, City received zilch when losing Scotland players such as Lisa Evans, Rachel Corsie and Emma Mitchell to professional clubs.

The case of Mitchell was particularly galling for the multiple-time Scottish champions. She joined the German club SGS Essen in 2013, but after just five months moved on to Arsenal. Essen received a transfer fee while City, who had developed the Scotland left-back for four years, got nothing.

The fee Houston Dash paid for O’Sullivan wasn’t huge, but it does to some extent compensate City for their development of the Cork-born player.

It’s also a great move for the young Irish playmaker. It came at a low point in her life, almost immediately following the death of her father and footballing mentor John. He died five weeks after being diagnosed with cancer and just days before his daughter signed for Houston Dash – although he had been aware of the protracted negotiations between the clubs. “He would have been absolutely thrilled,” O’Sullivan said.

The 22-year-old joins a club which boasts the world player of the year, Carli Lloyd, as well as the Brazilian, Andressa. Dash are one of 10 clubs in the National Women’s Soccer League and O’Sullivan, pictured, will find herself in opposition to former Glasgow City team-mate Corsie who, along with Kim Little, plays for Seattle Reign.

STILL on matters Republic of Ireland, what was Martin O’Neill thinking about when he made his ill-judged remarks about WAGS on Thursday?

O’Neill is an intelligent and generally thoughtful man, but his attempt at humour – saying “uglier” wives and girlfriends would not be allowed to visit the squad during Euro 2016 – was woeful and demeaning.

At least he won’t have to resign, unlike the hapless Raymond Moore, the former chief executive of the Indian Wells tennis tournament, who said “lady” players should go down on their knees in supplication, thankful that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born because they carried the sport.