Women football conservative approach to sacking coaches persists with mediocrity
The managerial sack race is often a big part of the Premier League season. This campaign, however, clubs have been more reserved. Former Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom and Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper are the only men to have been dismissed, while Roy Hodgson stepped down from Crystal Palace in March and Julen Lopetegui left Wolves before a ball had been kicked.
The previous season saw a record 14 managers sacked. It is perhaps not surprising that women’s football is more conservative. Only five managers have been sacked in the past two Women’s Super League seasons - and they have come from the same clubs.
Brighton are accountable for three, with Hope Powell and Jens Scheuer dismissed last season while Mel Phillips was let go in February. The other two came at Leicester, Lydia Bedford last season and Willie Kirk last month.
Pressing the panic button does not always work. There are obvious cost issues with doing so and there is no guarantee that the replacements will fare any better. There is also something to be said for persistence.
Manchester City could easily have sacked Gareth Taylor after failing to win a trophy or qualify for the Champions League last season. The club stuck by him and are now in with a chance of winning a first WSL title in eight years.
But the issue in the women’s game is that sometimes clubs and countries persist with mediocrity.
Scotland failed to qualify for the World Cup yet still awarded Pedro Martinez Losa a new contract. They finished bottom of their Nations League group and were humiliated in their final game against England, with the Lionesses winning 6-0.
Their relegation to League B saw them drawn in a Euro 2025 qualifying group with Serbia, Slovakia and Israel. It is a
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