Leicester City has terminated the contract of manager Willie Kirk after conducting an inquiry into allegations of a relationship with a player.
The 45-year-old Scot was suspended earlier this month while the club investigated the claims made against him.
During his suspension, Kirk was absent for the team’s defeats against Tottenham and Brighton, as well as their 2-0 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals. Following the investigation, Kirk has been dismissed, marking the end of his two-year tenure at the club.
He initially joined Leicester in July 2022 as the director of football before taking over as the head coach four months later, replacing Lydia Bedford. With 16 points from 17 matches, Leicester currently sits in ninth place in the Women’s Super League (WSL).
Jennifer Foster and Stephen Kirby will assume temporary charge of the team while the club searches for a permanent replacement for Kirk.
In a statement, Leicester City Football Club said: “Following an extensive internal disciplinary process and respecting the Club’s obligations to individual privacy, Willie was determined to have breached the team’s code of conduct to a degree that makes his position untenable.
“Established and implemented ahead of the start of the current season, the code forms part of the Club’s ongoing commitment to professionalising the women’s game since the takeover of LCFC Women in 2020, promoting a performance-led culture among players, coaches and technical staff.
“First Team responsibilities for LCFC Women will continue to be led by Jennifer Foster, supported by Stephen Kirby, while the Club begins the process of appointing a new permanent manager.”
