Leicester open investigation into women's manager Willie Kirk over alleged relationship with player

Per The Guardian, Leicester Women have suspended manager Kirk over allegations of a relationship with a player while an investigation is conducted. He will not be on the touchline for their clash with Liverpool this weekend.

The Foxes released a statement to The Guardian, reading: “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 has worked with Leicester since July 2022, when he was appointed as the club's director of football. He was later appointed manager on November 3, replacing Lydia Bedford. Kirk has managed Hibernian Women, Preston's men's team, as well as the WSL clubs Bristol City, and Everton before moving to Leicester. He also worked as an assistant, briefly, at Manchester United in 2018.

Leicester face Liverpool this weekend in the FA Cup. The Foxes are currently seventh in the WSL, with 16 points from 15 games. The Reds are fifth, by comparison.