The news about Phil Neville leaving the England Women’s National team a couple months back shocked the world of the women’s game, especially after the great job the British coach did during his three years in charge. That’s when FA came up with the brilliant, but weird idea of making an ad for applicants to become the new boss of the national side.
It was announced in April Neville would be stepping down as manager of the Lionesses when his contract expires in July 2021. That’s why Jill Ellis, former USA’s manager, would be appointed to take his role as new coach. However, in the last hours, talks between England Women and Jill Ellis have stalled due to the former USA head coach’s salary request.
So, for now, England Women’s side, who’s preparing for their September training camp, will be expecting Neville to be in charge.
The financial hit the FA has taken during the coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on the search for his successor. Ellis was earning around £382,000 ($500,000) a year with the USA team, when she decided to resign after winning her second World Cup last summer. Neville reportedly earns up to £300,000 as head coach of the Lionesses, so, obviously, having to add £82,000 extra for Ellis is being seen carefully, especially with how things are going with the pandemic crisis.
The FA announced in June it would be making 124 redundancies to protect against the projected deficit of £300M over the next four years. The current players, as well as Neville himself, will all have a say in whoever becomes the new manager.
Jill Ellis and Phil Neville are known for being good friends, but recent reports have surfaced from the USA criticising Ellis’ player management skills. The FA has shortlisted a number of candidates to succeed Neville and conducted interviews last month.
Among the contenders are one of the best known names in the women’s game in Chelsea’s Emma Hayes, former Manchester City boss Nick Cushing, Manchester United manager, Casey Stoney, and English-born Canada Men’s teama coach, John Herdman.
Meanwhile, England Women will not be taking part in next year’s SheBelieves Cup, as the FA announced recently, and news of the Lionesses’ autumn fixtures will be announced in due course.
The FA should be capable of bringing a world-class appointment by the end of Neville’s contract, so England fans shouldn’t expect nothing less, as the UK women’s game seek to claim European and World Cup glory in the years to come.
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