Burnley make statement of intent with move to hire Liverpool WSL title winner Beard
Burnley are in advanced talks with the former Liverpool manager Matt Beard about their women's team's head coach role, the Guardian can reveal.
It is understood the club are close to a deal with the 47-year-old in what would be a big statement of intent from the third-tier club, who recently announced they will become fully professional next season.
Advertisement
Beard, formerly also the manager of Chelsea, Boston Breakers and West Ham, oversaw a fourth-placed finish in the Women's Super League with Liverpool 13 months ago and has extensive experience at the top of the women's game. He guided Liverpool to back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014, during the first of his two spells there. He also led Chelsea to the FA Cup final in 2012 and West Ham to the 2019 final. In his second spell at Liverpool, Beard oversaw promotion to the WSL in 2022 before leaving on 27 February with the team seventh.
Burnley finished fourth in the northern region of the third tier last term, 12 points behind the champions, Nottingham Forest. They have ambitions for promotion and last month the chair, Alan Pace, said: 'It's important that we now provide the resources required to go full-time and give those involved the opportunity to progress to the next level. We see both the men's and women's teams as being important now and forever, and this move aims to accelerate the women further along their development timeline.'
The club have been searching for a permanent head coach since mutually agreeing to part ways with Rebecca Sawiuk in March, and the first-team coach Louise Roberts was placed in interim charge. Last season some players were on full-time terms and others combined training with education or day jobs, but they are to receive a significant increase to their operating budget.
Burnley applied to fill the WSL 2 vacancy when Blackburn withdrew last month, but those in charge of the leagues gave Sheffield United a reprieve from relegation instead of promoting Burnley.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Photo highlights from the first week of the Club World Cup
Esperance de Tunis supporters react during the Club World Cup Group D soccer match between Los Angeles FC and ES Tunisie in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala, front, is challenged by Boca Juniors' Lautaro Di Lollo, back, during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Inter Miami's Oscar Ustari fails to save a penalty kick during the Club World Cup group A soccer match between Inter Miami and FC Porto in Atlanta, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) Benfica's Renato Sanches, left, and Auckland City's Ryan De Vries fight for the ball during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Auckland City in Orlando, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack) Flamengo's Bruno Henrique, left, celebrates after scoring during the Club World Cup Group D soccer match between Flamengo and Chelsea in Philadelphia, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) Al Ahly's Trezeguet attempts a shot on goal after missing a penalty during the Club World Cup group A soccer match between Al Ahly and Inter Miami in Miami, Fla., Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Chelsea's Liam Delap, right, and Los Angeles FC's Aaron Long (33) battle for the ball during the Club World Cup Group D soccer match between Chelsea and Los Angeles FC, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) River Plate's Giuliano Galoppo (34) and Urawa Red Diamonds' Takahiro Sekine (14) battle for a head ball during the Club World Cup group E soccer match between River Plate and Urawa Red Diamonds in Seattle, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Benfica's Andrea Belotti (19) and Boca Juniors' Ayrton Costa battle for the ball during the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Boca Juniors fans cheer prior to the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Club World Cup group A soccer match between Inter Miami and FC Porto in Atlanta, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak fails to block a shot by Paris Saint-Germain's Fabian Ruiz to score the opening goal during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between PSG and Atletico Madrid, in Pasadena, Calif., Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Wydad's supporters cheer during the Club World Cup group G soccer match between Manchester City and Wydad AC in Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) Esperance de Tunis' goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said is airborne as he fails to stop a goal from Flamengo's Luiz Arajo during the Club World Cup group D soccer match between Flamengo and ES Tunisie, in Philadelphia, Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) Real Madrid fans cheer before the Club World Cup group H soccer match between Real Madrid and Al Hilal in Miami Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Artists perform during the opening ceremony ahead of the Club World Cup group A soccer match between Al Ahly and Inter Miami in Miami, Fla., Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Botafogo celebrates after Jair Cunha scored the opening goal during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun) River Plate's Sebastian Driussi (15) scores with his head past Urawa Red Diamonds' Shusaku Nishikawa during the Club World Cup group E soccer match between River Plate and Urawa Red Diamonds in Seattle, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram, right, and Yann Sommer stop a shot during the Club World Cup group E soccer match between CF Monterrey and Inter Milan in Pasadena, Calif., Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Flamengo's Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Esperance de Tunis' Khalil Guenichi, left, compete for the ballduring the Club World Cup group D soccer match between Flamengo and ES Tunisie, in Philadelphia, Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) Wydad AC's Thembinkosi Lorch receives the ball in front of Manchester City's Vitor Reis during the Club World Cup group G soccer match between Manchester City and Wydad AC in Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) Boca Juniors' Rodrigo Battaglia, left bottom, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Fluminense's Samuel Xavier (2), and Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi collide as they battle for the ball during the Club World Cup group F soccer match between Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Botafogo's goalkeeper John tips the ball over the bar during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Red Bull Salzburg's Oscar Gloukh celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup group H soccer match between CF Pachuca and FC Salzburg in Cincinnati, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Dean) Red Bull Salzburg's Oscar Gloukh celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup group H soccer match between CF Pachuca and FC Salzburg in Cincinnati, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Dean) Esperance de Tunis supporters react during the Club World Cup Group D soccer match between Los Angeles FC and ES Tunisie in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala, front, is challenged by Boca Juniors' Lautaro Di Lollo, back, during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Inter Miami's Oscar Ustari fails to save a penalty kick during the Club World Cup group A soccer match between Inter Miami and FC Porto in Atlanta, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) Benfica's Renato Sanches, left, and Auckland City's Ryan De Vries fight for the ball during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Benfica and Auckland City in Orlando, Fla., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack) Flamengo's Bruno Henrique, left, celebrates after scoring during the Club World Cup Group D soccer match between Flamengo and Chelsea in Philadelphia, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) Al Ahly's Trezeguet attempts a shot on goal after missing a penalty during the Club World Cup group A soccer match between Al Ahly and Inter Miami in Miami, Fla., Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Chelsea's Liam Delap, right, and Los Angeles FC's Aaron Long (33) battle for the ball during the Club World Cup Group D soccer match between Chelsea and Los Angeles FC, Monday, June 16, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) River Plate's Giuliano Galoppo (34) and Urawa Red Diamonds' Takahiro Sekine (14) battle for a head ball during the Club World Cup group E soccer match between River Plate and Urawa Red Diamonds in Seattle, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Benfica's Andrea Belotti (19) and Boca Juniors' Ayrton Costa battle for the ball during the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Boca Juniors fans cheer prior to the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Club World Cup group A soccer match between Inter Miami and FC Porto in Atlanta, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak fails to block a shot by Paris Saint-Germain's Fabian Ruiz to score the opening goal during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between PSG and Atletico Madrid, in Pasadena, Calif., Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Wydad's supporters cheer during the Club World Cup group G soccer match between Manchester City and Wydad AC in Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) Esperance de Tunis' goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said is airborne as he fails to stop a goal from Flamengo's Luiz Arajo during the Club World Cup group D soccer match between Flamengo and ES Tunisie, in Philadelphia, Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) Real Madrid fans cheer before the Club World Cup group H soccer match between Real Madrid and Al Hilal in Miami Gardens, Fla., Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Artists perform during the opening ceremony ahead of the Club World Cup group A soccer match between Al Ahly and Inter Miami in Miami, Fla., Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Botafogo celebrates after Jair Cunha scored the opening goal during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun) River Plate's Sebastian Driussi (15) scores with his head past Urawa Red Diamonds' Shusaku Nishikawa during the Club World Cup group E soccer match between River Plate and Urawa Red Diamonds in Seattle, Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram, right, and Yann Sommer stop a shot during the Club World Cup group E soccer match between CF Monterrey and Inter Milan in Pasadena, Calif., Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Flamengo's Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Esperance de Tunis' Khalil Guenichi, left, compete for the ballduring the Club World Cup group D soccer match between Flamengo and ES Tunisie, in Philadelphia, Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) Wydad AC's Thembinkosi Lorch receives the ball in front of Manchester City's Vitor Reis during the Club World Cup group G soccer match between Manchester City and Wydad AC in Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) Boca Juniors' Rodrigo Battaglia, left bottom, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Club World Cup group C soccer match between Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami Gardens, Fla., Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Fluminense's Samuel Xavier (2), and Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi collide as they battle for the ball during the Club World Cup group F soccer match between Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) Botafogo's goalkeeper John tips the ball over the bar during the Club World Cup group B soccer match between Botafogo and Seattle Sounders at Seattle Lumen Field, in Seattle, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Red Bull Salzburg's Oscar Gloukh celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup group H soccer match between CF Pachuca and FC Salzburg in Cincinnati, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Dean) Photo highlights from the first week of the Club World Cup. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Nuno Espirito Santo signs new three-year Nottingham Forest contract
Nottingham Forest have been given a significant boost ahead of their first season in Europe for 30 years with the club's manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, signing a new three-year contract at the City Ground. Nuno's previous deal had been set to expire in the summer of 2026 and the 51-year-old has agreed terms that will keep him at the City Ground until 2028. Advertisement It follows an impressive season in which Nuno's team, widely tipped to be among the relegation candidates, spent several months in the Champions League places before eventually having to make do with seventh place and qualification for the Conference League. Forest were the only team to beat Liverpool at Anfield, as well as defeating Manchester City at home, completing a double over Manchester United and reaching an FA Cup semi-final. Nuno has been talked about, as such, as a realistic contender to challenge Liverpool's Arne Slot for the manager-of-the-year accolades. Nuno, who had previously led Wolverhampton Wanders into Europe, took over from Steve Cooper in December 2023 during a difficult campaign for the Midlands club that saw them docked points for breaching the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules and finishing only one place above the relegation zone. Last season, however, Forest's progress made them one of the biggest surprises for many years and, behind the scenes at the City Ground, the club's hierarchy are acutely aware of Nuno's popularity among the players. Forest will begin the 2025-26 season with a home game against Brentford while also waiting for news about whether they might be promoted to the Europa League as a result of Crystal Palace's issues over joint ownership potentially breaching UEFA's regulations. Either way, it will be Forest's first season in Europe since Frank Clark led them to the Uefa Cup quarter-finals in 1995-96 – and the news of Nuno's new contract will be received favourably by the club's supporters. This is a big moment for Forest and will add to the sense of optimism going into a season in which everyone connected with the club will be desperate to show that their success during the last campaign was not a one-off. Advertisement You just have to listen to the players to realise how much they respect their manager and that carries over into the boardroom, too, with the club's owner, Evangelos Marinakis, overseeing the decision to offer Nuno new terms. Yes, Nuno will always be reminded about his short and unsuccessful stint at Tottenham Hotspur. But there have been plenty of elite managers who have come up short at Spurs and, if we are looking at Nuno's previous work, his success with Wolves is surely a more accurate gauge with which to judge him. Speak to Wolves fans and they all remember him fondly. At Forest, the only disappointment is that Nuno's team could not hold on to their position in the Champions League qualification places. Instead, they fell away in their last eight games, winning twice, drawing a couple and losing the other four. Overall, though, it was a hugely enjoyable season for Forest's supporters and to a large proportion of the fanbase – certainly anyone under the age of 30 – the most exciting times on Trentside since Frank Clark led the club into Europe with a third-placed finish in 1995.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rugby legend Kevin Sinfield to share his story at North East event
Rugby legend and charity fundraiser Kevin Sinfield will share his story at a special North East event. The former Leeds player and successful Super League star is launching The Extra Mile speaking tour. On Thursday, September 25, he will stop at Gateshead's The Fed, recounting tales from his career and his team's charitable efforts, which have raised millions for motor neurone disease (MND) charities. Kevin Sinfield going the extra mile (Image: Alamy) The multi-award-winning player, who earned 26 caps for England and 14 for Great Britain, will particularly highlight his fundraising for ex-teammate Rob Burrow. Sinfield and Burrow formed a strong bond over 15 years of playing rugby together, which extended beyond the field. When Burrow was diagnosed with MND, Sinfield committed to running seven marathons in seven days to raise £77,777 for his friend and the MND Association. This initiative alone raised over £2 million, with the current total from Kevin and his team's efforts exceeding £12 million. The funds have been crucial in aiding research into the cause of the debilitating disease. Sinfield continues to support MND research, balancing his fundraising with his career and personal friendships, which will all feature in his talk. He said: "I can't wait to bring the event to the North East. READ MORE: Band raises £50,000 for children's cancer charities in memory of Darlington teenager County Durham salon refused by council after source of 'noise and disruption' Popular Spennymoor butchers with 40 years' experience named The Northern Echo's best "Every time we have visited for the challenges the people have come out in force to support us, and I am really grateful, hopefully we will see a lot of old friends there." Tickets for the evening at The Fed are priced at £30 for silver tickets and £50 for VIP tickets which include a signed copy of Kevin's book, The Extra Mile, and a printed photograph with the player. They are available at
