Soccer is full of rules and regulations that need to be upheld, and that is no different in the dressing room. A coach must be respected by his players and similarly must also respect his own players. However, Willie Kirk has broken that sacred relationship between coach and player.
The women’s sport has been growing in the past few years, and especially in England. Many Premier League clubs have invested into their female teams to compete for trophies in recent years, and Leicester City Women are no different, though they have been hit with terrible news now.
Why is Leicester City investigating manager Willie Kirk?
According to The Guardian, Leicester Women team have suspended their manager Willie Kirk for their next game. Apparently, it is due to an investigation being carried out after the emergence of rumors that he is a relationship with one of his own female players.
A spokesperson for the club confirmed that an investigation was underway and that he had been suspended for their next game against Liverpool, “Willie Kirk is assisting the club with an internal process, the outcomes of which will be determined in due course. Assistant manager Jennifer Foster and first-team coach Stephen Kirby will take charge of the team for Saturday’s FA Women’s Cup tie at Liverpool.”
As of now Kirk has not provided any comment on the matter and is said to be cooperating with club members over the investigation. The alleged female player with whom he is having a relationship with is still unknown as well. If found guilty, both the coach and player could be punished, with total exit from the club confirmed.
It is considered highly inappropriate to have a relationship with a work colleague at the same club, let alone with a manager. Leicester will have their image further tarnished with this, after recent rumors suggested they could be hit with a point deduction next season.
Willie Kirk suspended for Leicester vs Liverpool clash
Willie Kirk was not on the touchline as his Leicester Women side beat Liverpool in a FA Women’s Cup quarterfinal game. The game was managed by first team coach Stephen Kirby instead, and saw a 2-0 win. Forward Jutta Rantala scored both goals, in each of the halves.
Leicester Women are only seventh in the Women’s Super League, with just 16 points from 15 games. Their male counterparts are close to gaining promotion to the Premier League next season, which shows the female team will have a lot of work cut out for them.
They next face Tottenham Women on Sunday, and it is still not confirmed whether Willie Kirk will return to the touchline in that match.
