Leicester City have confirmed that Willie Kirk has been removed as manager of the club’s women’s team following a club investigation into an alleged relationship with a player.
Leicester confirmed in March that Kirk was not managing the team as he was assisting the club with an “internal process”. Athleticism said he was under investigation over an alleged relationship with one of his players.
A statement from Leicester on Thursday confirmed that Kirk had been stood down. It read: “Following an extensive internal disciplinary process and in compliance with the club’s privacy obligations, Willie was determined to have breached the team’s code of conduct to a degree that renders its untenable position.
“Established and implemented before the start of the current season, the code is part of the club’s ongoing commitment to professionalizing women’s football since the takeover of LCFC Women in 2020, promoting a performance-driven culture among the players, coaches and technical staff.
“LCFC Women’s first team responsibilities will continue to be led by Jennifer Foster, supported by Stephen Kirby, while the club begins the process of appointing a new permanent manager.”
A Leicester spokesperson said on March 8: “Willie Kirk is assisting the club with an internal process, the results of which will be determined in due course. »
It happened just a few weeks after it appeared Jonathan Morgan had a “secret” three-year relationship with a teenage player while he was manager of Leicester.
Morgan was sacked by Sheffield United last month after the player, who said she was 17 at first, went public with what her mother described as an “inappropriate and immoral” relationship.
Assistant manager Jennifer Foster and first team coach Stephen Kirby took charge of the team in Kirk’s absence. They oversaw an FA Cup quarter-final victory over Liverpool and Women’s Super League defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton.
Kirk is represented by agent Jo Tongue, director of Women in Football, but his biography has been removed from his company’s website. Tongue previously represented Morgan but removed him from the role after details of his relationship with the Leicester teenager were revealed.
When approached by Athleticism earlier this month, Tongue said she would not comment while an investigation was underway.
Kirk, who represented Preston Athletic during his playing career, began his managerial career at Hibernian in 2006.
The Scot began managing the Women’s Super League (WSL) in 2015 with Bristol City before becoming assistant manager of Manchester United in the summer of 2018.
Kirk managed Everton between 2018 and 2021 before being appointed director of football at Leicester in July 2022. He became manager of Leicester the same year, replacing Lydia Bedford.
Foster and Kirby first took charge of the team on Saturday, March 9, the day after an investigation into Kirk was announced. They oversaw a 2-0 victory over Liverpool which secured progression to the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history. Foster said the team’s entire focus was on the game.
“The players were focused, because we have that experience in the team,” she said. “For them the goal was how to beat Liverpool, and we did that today.”
Leicester, ninth in the Women’s Super League, return to action on Saturday with a league clash at Aston Villa.
(Aplomb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)