Leicester women’s manager sacked after probe into alleged relationship with own player

Leicester women’s manager Willie Kirk has been sacked after a probe was launched into an alleged relationship with his own player.

Kirk faced suspension earlier this month as the club looked into the allegations against the 45-year-old Scot.

This led to his absence during their two league losses to Tottenham and Brighton, as well as the 2-0 victory over Liverpool that secured Leicester’s spot in the FA Women’s Cup semi-finals.

Following the investigation, Kirk has now had his contract terminated, marking the conclusion of his two-year tenure at the club.

He first joined Leicester back in July 2022 as the director of football, later taking over from Lydia Bedford as the head coach.

Leicester currently sit 9th in the Women’s Super League (WSL) with 16 points from 17 matches.

Leicester City Football Club can confirm that Willie Kirk has been dismissed from his position as LCFC Women Manager.

— LCFC Women (@LCFC_Women) March 28, 2024

BREAKING! Willie Kirk has been sacked by Leicester City Women after an internal disciplinary process found the manager “breached the team’s code of conduct”. pic.twitter.com/jDvDea3K9b

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 28, 2024

LCFC STATEMENT

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.

‘I think player-coach relationships are very inappropriate,’ Wiegman said. ‘I think we should not accept that.

‘That’s not healthy. That is basically what it is. I think in our environment, it’s a professional environment, it is all about performing and it should always be safe.

‘Things can happen but it’s inappropriate and we all should be very aware of that.

‘It is common sense. We all know that if we are in this environment, that is really inappropriate. I think if we all take our responsibility, then things wouldn’t happen.

‘But when it happens too often, then you need regulation. I’ll leave that up to other ones. I just hope in every environment I work in, in how we work and we always talk about safe environments, this is one of the things that should be really safe, that everyone’s really aware of the responsibility we have.’

‘I didn’t think it was right for me to use the term inappropriate for the players,’ she said. ‘Nonetheless, when we have honest conversations about these things I don’t take those things back but I have zero criticism of any player in my dressing room for anything.

‘They’re professionalism, for what they’ve given to the club regardless of their status, regardless of who they’re in a relationship with. I’ve been unbelievably supportive of all of the players. I’ve been a champion for quality and equity. I think, sadly, this has become a topic that’s blown up in an unnecessary way.’

This is how fans reacted with Leicester women’s manager Willie Kirk sacked after a probe into an alleged relationship with his club’s own player…

@LestahSam: Please learn from this, nowhere near good enough from the club

@THENUNEATONFOX: He had to go. A relationship is a no no and he should know. Club have had 2 managers that have both done this. Morgan should have been the one and only. Kirk should now be the last one. Get someone in who will get the team winning too.

@NickolaiMeakin: Never a dull moment.

@NoahMalacad: Appalling, especially since he is such a great manager, but kudos to Leicester for not thinking twice about it.

@foxinthebox2010: Someone’s going to be missing Willie in that dressing room.

@towbray65381: When are you sacking the player involved? Both of them have broken the same rules and it was consensual. Both should be punished the same

@NewYorkFoxes: We appreciate the decisive action in this situation; however, the club must learn a serious lesson and make sure it does better from here on out for our women wearing the badge.

@J8mes_btr: Correct decision. He’s in a position of power and he should have known better, and been more professional. Whoever comes in can hopefully build on what has been a good season so far.

@MILLS1989FB: Willie by name, Willy by nature 💙🦊

@steve1964sw6: Has she been sacked as well?

@Ashleypp1986: Club is a mess! #LCFC

@DarrenHorner9: Surely gotta sack the player too

@thefoxesarms: What is happening with our club? Something always seems to go wrong every week!!!!

@chrishoward7891: If he has been sacked then surely the player as well should be sacked as well, takes two to tango.

@dosed150: The state of the comments as expected, it’s the power imbalance that makes this an issue, in most workplaces management aren’t meant to have relationships with the people they manage and it is seen as an abuse of power

@Dan__Smith1995: @Joey7Barton about to have an absolute field day.

@DelBoy1872_55: Surely the female footballer should be sacked aswell 🤔 Rules are rules and BOTH have broken them. Or is it because he is male and she must be the victim?