Advertisement

Exclusive: Birmingham City to unveil Carla Ward as their new head coach

Exclusive: Birmingham City to unveil Carla Ward as their new head coach  -  Getty Images
Exclusive: Birmingham City to unveil Carla Ward as their new head coach - Getty Images

Birmingham City are set to unveil the former Sheffield United manager Carla Ward as their new head coach, Telegraph Sport can reveal.

Ward has been keen to get back into management, particularly in the top tier, following her sudden departure from the Blades on July 7, where she was understood to have been making plans to bring in the former Leeds United men’s head coach Neil Redfearn as her assistant. She was also involved in the arrival of Mel Johnson, one of United's summer signings who joined after Ward's exit. She has been working for her printing business and participating in online coaching webinars since leaving the club, and was preparing to shadow Women’s Super League managers once lockdown restrictions lifted.

The 36-year-old left Sheffield United by mutual agreement having just guided the club to second in the Women’s Championship - their highest-ever position in the league pyramid. They missed out on promotion to the WSL, finishing six points behind Aston Villa. It is believed that Ward - who was awarded her Uefa A licence in February this year - now plans to bring in seven to eight players at Birmingham.

The Blues have been without a permanent manager since March following the departure of the former Chile and Peru national team coach Marta Tejedor by mutual consent. Tejedor, 51, succeeded the current Orlando Pride manager Marc Skinner in January 2019. Birmingham finished second from bottom in the Women’s Super League last year, with just two wins from 13 games.

Ward had helped Sheffield United make a successful application for Championship status in 2018 having joined the club as player-assistant manager from Sheffield FC in November 2017.