Football: Willie Kirk joins WSL 2 side Durham two years after Leicester City sacking

Willie Kirk has been appointed head coach of Women's Super League 2 side Durham, two years after he was sacked by Leicester City Women's team for having a relationship with a player.

The 48-year-old was dismissed in March 2024 following an internal investigation that found he was in a physical relationship with a player, breaching the club's code of conduct.

Player-coach relationships are not illegal - as long as no minors are involved - with Kirk returning for the first time to English football.

Durham's statement made no mention of his dismissal from Leicester City.

Codes of conduct among players and managers are a condition of clubs getting a WSL licence, and every club must have a safeguarding officer in place.

BBC Sport has reached out to Durham for comment about the appointment and to the Football Association (FA) and Professional Footballers' Association (PFA).

Personal relationships between players and coaches in women's football have been criticised for potentially creating a power imbalance in a squad and putting young women at risk.

England manager Sarina Wiegman has described them as "very inappropriate" and "not healthy".

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