HOPE POWELL has stood down as boss of Brighton Women bringing her five-year tenure in charge of the side to a close.
Her departure comes a day after the Seagulls endured one of their heaviest defeats in the WSL â an 8-0 drubbing at home to Tottenham.
Today the club confirmed Powell, 56, had stepped down “with immediate effect”; as manager of the side currently second from bottom in the league.
The Seagulls had won over 40 percent of the 116 matches played under the former England head coach after she took charge in July 2017.
And in the 2020-21 season, Powell led them to sixth place, their highest-ever finish in the top tier.
However, theyà are three points above the WSLâs drop zone having lost four of their opening five games this season.
Powell said: “Weâve had a very challenging start to the new season with many changes to our squad and results not going as we had all hoped.
“Sundayâs heavy loss at home to Tottenham was particularly disappointing.Ã
“As a club, weâve made a lot of progress in the past five years, but I feel now is the right time to step aside and allow a new coach to take the team forward with plenty of Super League football still to play this season.â
Brighton Womenâs chair, Michelle Walder, added: âHopeâs contribution to the development of womenâs and girlsâ football at our club, and for the women’s game in this country, cannot be underestimated.
âShe has established Brighton & Hove Albion in the Women’s Super League and has overseen the opening of a new state-of-the-art womenâs and girlsâ teams training facility at our club.
“She has undoubtedly inspired further generations of young girls to play football. We wish her well for the future.â
Powellâs departure followed reports concerning speculation over her future with the team falling to losses of four or more goals in three of their first five WSL games.
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Her departure also follows a summer that has seen Brightonâs senior squad depleted following the exits of several players.
First-team regulars who departed include highly-rated defender Maya Le Tissier who sealed a move to Manchester United.
Other aces who left include forward Aileen Whelan, Dutch duo Inessa Kaagman and Danielle Kerkdijk, and Finland full-back Emma Koivisto.Ã