Manchester City Women have confirmed they have parted ways with manager Gareth Taylor and have appointed Nick Cushing on an interim basis.
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Taylor departs Man City in shock moveClub not happy with resultsCushing to take charge for rest of seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Taylor departs City with the team currently in fourth place in the WSL table and having just booked a place in the FA Cup semi-finals by beating Aston Villa 2-0. Manchester City are also due to face Chelsea in the League Cup at the weekend and will also face the Blues in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. However, a statement from the club confirmed the news and added that recent results simply have not been good enough.
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Managing Director Charlotte O’Neill said in a statement: “Manchester City prides itself on competing at the top of the WSL and on its outstanding record of qualifying for European competition. Unfortunately, results this season have so far not reached this high standard. With six games of the WSL campaign remaining, we believe that a change of management will breathe fresh life into our bid to ensure qualification for the 2025/26 UEFA Women’s Champions League. We would like to place on record our thanks to Gareth for all of his efforts during his many years at City. Our FA Cup and League Cup triumphs will remain special moments in the history of this football club. We wish him all the best for the future.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Taylor took over at City in 2020 and led them to FA Cup success later that year, before securing a League Cup triumph in 2022. After missing out on the Women's Super League title on goal difference to Chelsea last season, they appear to have gone backwards this term. The club have signalled their intent to make it to next season's Champions League but currently are one point behind third-placed Arsenal, who occupy the third and final qualification spot. Taylor led City to this season's League Cup final but he will not be in the dugout for that showpiece event on Saturday.
WHAT NEXT?
City are preparing to face Chelsea four times in the next two and a half weeks as they play them in the League Cup, Champions League quarter-finals, and WSL. Cushing, who managed the club previously, will take charge of the team for those matches after being installed as interim boss.