Football / Bristol City Women
Matt Beard to become Bristol City caretaker manager until end of season
Bristol City Women have appointed Matt Beard to take charge of the first team until the end of this season.
The former West Ham, Liverpool and Chelsea manager will provide maternity cover for Tanya Oxtoby, who is expecting a baby in March.
Beard will take charge of the Vixens for the first time on Saturday in the FA Women’s Super League against Everton.
is needed now More than ever
The 43-year-old will have a tough job saving City from dropping out of the WSL, where they have yet to win a game this season.
But there is hope of silverware in the Continental Tyres League Cup in which City are in the semi-finals after beating Aston Villa 2-1 on Wednesday evening.
Beard won back-to-back WSL titles with Liverpool in 2013 and 2014, before taking charge of Boston Breakers in the American NWSL.
He became West Ham boss in 2018, taking them to the Women’s FA Cup final in 2019 at the end of their first season as a professional club which was documented by BBC Three in Britain’s Youngest Football Boss which was renamed to Squad Girls in its second series.
City Women board chairman Mark Ashton said that it “has been a challenging season so far and credit to Tanya, who despite contracting Covid-19, has remained focused and determined to drive the team forward”.
He added: “Allowing her to take a step back now will allow a significant handover period for Matt and we are delighted to have secured his services for the rest of the season during Tanya’s maternity leave.”
Beard said: “I’m really excited and looking forward to the challenge. I want to come in and make an impact straight away with the players, the staff and hopefully that impact can turn into results.”
Main photo: Bristol Sport
Read more: Tanya Oxtoby: ‘There is more to life than football’
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