After citing breaches of the ‘team’s code of conduct’, Leicester City Women’s team has made the decision to terminate the contract of their first-team manager, Willie Kirk.
Kirk, aged 45, was last seen on the touchline during the team’s 4-0 loss to Chelsea in the Women’s Super League on March 3.
Subsequent to this match, the club announced that Kirk was undergoing an internal process and would not manage the team for their FA Cup quarter-final on March 9.
In Kirk’s absence, the team was guided by his assistant, Jennifer Foster, and first-team coach Stephen Kirby, who led them to a 2-0 victory in the FA Cup quarter-final and have continued to manage the team since then.
The departure of Kirk comes amidst allegations of being romantically involved with one of the players, though the club has not disclosed the specifics of the accusation.
Leicester City confirmed Kirk’s dismissal in a statement, revealing that an extensive internal disciplinary process had been undertaken, ultimately leading to the conclusion that Kirk had breached the team’s code of conduct to a degree that made his position untenable.
While the search for Kirk’s permanent replacement is underway, Foster and Kirby will oversee the team’s activities until a new manager is appointed.