LEICESTER have sacked their women’s team manager Willie Kirk following an investigation into an alleged relationship with a player.
Ex-Everton boss Kirk, 45, had been suspended since March 8 while the investigation was being conducted by the club.
Assistant Jennifer Foster and first-team coach Stephen Kirby have taken over during Kirk’s absence since March 9.
During that time Leicester reached the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals following a 2-0 quarters win against Liverpool.
However the team have lost their last two Women’s Super League games against Tottenham and Brighton.
And the club have now parted ways with the Edinburgh-born coach following an “extensive internal disciplinary process”.
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A club statement read: “Leicester City Football Club can confirm that Willie Kirk has been dismissed from his position as LCFC Women Manager.
“Following an extensive internal disciplinary process and respecting the Club’s obligations to individual privacy, Willie was determined to have breached the team’s code of conduct to a degree that makes his position untenable.
“Established and implemented ahead of the start of the current season, the code forms part of the Club’s ongoing commitment to professionalising the women’s game since the takeover of LCFC Women in 2020, promoting a performance-led culture among players, coaches and technical staff.”
“First Team responsibilities for LCFC Women will continue to be led by Jennifer Foster, supported by Stephen Kirby, while the Club begins the process of appointing a new permanent manager.”
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Kirk’s departure comes almost two months after Sheffield ended Jonathan Morgan’s reign as their women’s team boss.
The Blades’ dismissal of Morgan followed information coming to light concerning an alleged relationship with a player during his tenure as Leicester boss, before the team became affiliated with the men’s club.
Aston Villa gaffer Carla Ward, whose team host Leicester on Saturday, believes relationships between footballers and their managers should be a sackable offence.
Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall described them as “very inappropriate”, while he called on football authorities, clubs and associations to address safeguarding.
And Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman also shared her concerns on the issue, stating the need for “regulations” to be introduced.
Kirk began his football management career as an assistant academy coach at Scottish Livingstone in 2006.
Following a four-year spell as Under-17s coach at Hibernian, he moved to England to work in women’s football as manager of Bristol City.
After a stint as Casey Stoney’s assistant at Man United and a three-year reign at Everton Women’s boss Kirk arrived at Leicester in July 2022 as director of football.
He then replaced Lydia Bedford as manager that November and has held the position ever since.
They were on a six-match pointless run when he took charge but he helped them to beat the drop and guided them to a 10th place finish.
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Kirk is yet to comment publicly regarding the allegations.
Leicester sit ninth in the WSL, 10 points above the league’s relegation spot with five games remaining.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
