Women’s representation rises in WSL management
The Women’s Super League has become a leading example of progress for women in football management. In January 2023, only four of the 12 WSL coaches were women. That figure has since increased to eight of the 14 managers in England’s top tier.
Women are also managing all three newly promoted WSL sides. Amy Merricks is in charge at Birmingham, Jo Potter manages Crystal Palace and Karen Hills leads Charlton Athletic. A new Fifa quota requiring women’s teams to have a female head coach or assistant has also helped improve the gender balance at the highest level of the game.
Cost and childcare continue to restrict coaching access
The picture is different at grassroots level, where financial pressures, childcare responsibilities and limited support continue to make the coaching pathway difficult. The barriers affect former Lionesses as well as other aspiring coaches.
Former England international Fara Williams discussed the decline in coaching numbers on the BBC’s Women’s Football Fallout podcast:
“That number is a shock,” said ex-England international Fara Williams, speaking on the BBC’s Women’s Football Fallout about the drop in coaching numbers.
Williams said the cost of coaching qualifications does not always match the salaries or opportunities available after completing them.
“The cost to do B and A licences, and the salaries or opportunities you will get from that investment, it does not quite marry up. They are quite costly, those badges. “I tried it [the coaching pathway], it was not feasible to take up that opportunity. Some can take that risk, but our generation of players, we were not paid enough to go mortgage free, bills must be paid. I needed to do something that would pay the bills, and football coaching was not that.”
Williams said she had expected to pursue coaching after her playing career and had worked with development teams at Everton, Liverpool and Reading. However, she said the opportunities and finances available to players during and after their careers made progression into senior coaching difficult.
“When I was playing, I was adamant I was going to be a coach, I coached all the development teams at Everton, Liverpool and Reading, but it is so different. When you are playing you don’t have the opportunities to coach at a higher level, then when you come out the game you don’t have the money.”
Coaching qualifications create a financial barrier
The Uefa Pro Licence, the qualification required to coach at the highest level of English football, costs £14,000, while each intake has only 24 places. At the other end of the pathway, the entry-level C licence costs £650.
The C licence fee can be subsidised, but applicants must currently be associated with an FA-registered club to qualify. That requirement can create a “chicken and egg” situation for people who need the qualification to access opportunities but need an existing club connection to receive financial support.
Handyside acknowledged that cost is a significant barrier for both women and men, while explaining why its impact can be greater for women entering coaching.
“The top three barriers are the same for men and women, and cost was in there for both,” she said.
“It is seen as a bigger barrier for women because when you must work twice as hard, the risk and reward balance is more outmatched.”
“If you are a female looking at that cost and think you will also be overstretched and under supported, that £650 will have more of an impact.”
Why This Matters
The increase in women managing WSL clubs shows that representation at the top level of women’s football is improving. However, the financial and practical obstacles identified by Fara Williams and Handyside indicate that progress in elite appointments does not automatically create a broad pipeline of female coaches.
Qualification fees, limited course places, childcare pressures and the requirement to already be linked to an FA-registered club can all affect who is able to enter or continue through the coaching system. The contrast between the WSL’s improving managerial representation and the barriers at grassroots level highlights the importance of access to affordable training and supported coaching opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many women manage WSL clubs now?
Eight of the 14 managers in the English top tier are women, compared with four of 12 in January 2023.
Which newly promoted WSL clubs have women managers?
Amy Merricks manages Birmingham, Jo Potter manages Crystal Palace and Karen Hills manages Charlton Athletic.
How much do the coaching qualifications cost?
The Uefa Pro Licence costs £14,000 and has 24 places per intake. The entry-level C licence costs £650 and may be subsidised for applicants associated with an FA-registered club.
