Leicester women’s manager Willie Kirk ‘probed over allegations of relationship with own player and will miss next match’

LEICESTER CITY WOMEN’S manager Willie Kirk has allegedly been suspended over an alleged relationship with a player.

The WSL club confirmed on Friday that they have launched an investigation.

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Leicester City manager Willie Kirk has been suspended[/caption]

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The WSL club are investigating allegations he has had an alleged relationship with a player[/caption]

And Kirk will not be in the dug-out for their clash against Liverpool this weekend.

The Guardian reported the news amid the shock allegations of the relationship between the 45-year-old coach and one of his stars.

A statement from the Foxes then said: “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.”

Kirk arrived at Leicester in July 2022 as director of football.

He then replaced Lydia Bedford as manager that November and has held that position since.

They were on a six-match pointless run when he took charge but he helped them to beat the drop and guided them to a tenth place finish.

Kirk started his managerial career in Scotland at Hibernian.

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After a brief spell with Scottish non-league Preston Athletic’s men’s side, he then entered management in the WSL.

He enjoyed three years in charge of Bristol City but left to sign for Manchester United as Casey Stoney’s assistant.

However, he did not stay long with the Red Devils as just six months later he was off to become boss of Everton in December 2018.

He was sacked after recording just two wins from their opening five games of the 2021/22 season.

Kirk is yet to comment publicly regarding the shock allegations.

Speaking to The Telegraph in February 2022 regarding his Everton axe, the coach spoke of the “absolutely invaluable” family time he had managed to enjoy.

Kirk said: “As much as I’d probably have jumped straight into another job after a week, reflecting back, the extra family time has been absolutely invaluable.

“It’s not often, as a football manager, that you get to have a Christmas holiday. But I’ve wanted to make sure that I never just started taking lie-ins just because I could, so I’ve been pretty strict with getting up at 6am, and I’ve found the motivation to get to the gym a lot more.”

Prior to landing his role at Leicester, he had been working as a TV pundit covering WSL action.

And he revealed how “big cuddles” from a baby and his family had helped to “keep everything in perspective”.

He added: “Looking at things through a different lens will actually help me become a better coach. And when we speak to the coaches on camera after the game, you’re a little bit more sympathetic because you’ve been in their shoes.

“Fortunately for me, family helps keep everything in perspective. You might have a fantastic victory but you can still come home to a crying baby, or you might have a really bad, hurtful defeat but you come home to a big cuddle. They quickly take your mind off the result.”