Revealed: Chelsea players ask for female Emma Hayes replacement with ex-Man Utd boss Casey Stoney and former USWNT assistant Laura Harvey among leading candidates to take over

Hayes will take charge of the four-time world champions after Chelsea's season has concluded and the club has spoken to key members of the playing squad about what they would like in her successor, including whether they would prefer the coach to be a man or a woman. According to the Times, the feedback from those players has aligned with Chelsea's vision of Laura Harvey and Casey Stoney being the leading candidates for the job, though others are also being considered.

Stoney, a former England international, was previously in charge of Manchester United, leading the club to promotion to the Women's Super League before moving to the United States to take over the San Diego Wave. She guided the California team into the play-offs in her first year in charge, making them the first expansion side to reach that stage, before winning the NWSL Shield in 2023.

Harvey, meanwhile, has been a mainstay in the U.S. league over the past decade, with her most notable success coming in two stints with the Seattle Reign. The former USWNT assistant has won three Shield titles with the club and guided them to three Championship games, including last year's, though that title continues to elude both parties.

Carla Ward, the Aston Villa head coach, has also been mentioned as a candidate for the job, as well as Tanya Oxtoby, the former Bristol City boss who is currently part of Hayes' staff at Chelsea.

Hayes has won 15 major trophies in her 12 years in charge of Chelsea, a remarkable feat given the club had not won much of note when she first arrived. Her team have become the dominant force in English women's football over the last few years in particular, winning four successive WSL titles.

While the hierarchy at Chelsea works hard to find the perfect replacement for Hayes, the coach and her team will be focused on their return to action after the winter break. The Blues take on West Ham on Sunday in their first game of the year, with a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup up for grabs.