West Ham United have sacked Women’s team head coach Rehanne Skinner after a woeful run of form left the Hammers second-bottom of the Women’s Super League. The announcement comes just days after it was confirmed that The Monarch Collective is pressing ahead with a £50m investment for a 49% stake in the women’s team.
The club released a statement saying: “Recent results have not matched expectations and the board of directors believe that a change is necessary to help improve the team’s position in the Barclays Women’s Super League as soon as possible.”
Skinner departs with immediate effect after overseeing just one WSL win this season from 11 matches. Sunday’s 2-2 draw with bottom club Liverpool — who played over 70 minutes with 10 players — proved to be the final straw. The Hammers led twice in that game, only to concede a late equaliser that typified their season so far.
Monarch Investment Brings Fresh Scrutiny
The timing of Skinner’s dismissal is interesting, coming so soon after the high-profile news that US investment firm Monarch is set to acquire nearly half of the West Ham Women’s operation. With £50m on the table and fresh eyes likely to be watching, it seems results – now matter more than ever.
Skinner, who joined in July 2023 as the club’s first female head coach in the WSL era, had guided the team to safety in her first season and improved to a 9th-place finish last year. However, the regression this term has been stark.
With a League Cup quarter-final against Manchester City just three days away, West Ham Women will now begin the search for a new head coach.
This was long overdue.
The 1st year in the WSL and Mr.Sullivan puts his totally inexperienced son Jack in overall control. Which said everything about where the Women’s side of things ranked inside the club.And things drifted along for a few seasons with us going nowhere.
BUT…. last season ( for the first time ever ) proper investment was finally forthcoming. And for a season and a half the squad has been way better than the results.
I’ve seen a lot of comments by Hammers fans who clearly don’t follow the WSL saying Skinner wasn’t backed. She WAS.
So,the question being asked by many of us WSL home & away stalwarts is why she was given so much time. When even getting a point has been celebrated by us like we’ve just won the Champion’s League !
But the main criticism that should be levelled at the Board is why someone who almost got Spurs relegated with an appalling run of results was suddenly seen as the right person for us ?!
It made no sense back then,and even less now.
The only manager of any note we’ve had has been the late,sadly missed Matt Beard. And you’d struggle to even remember the ones in between.
So if we’re ever going to kick on then they’re going to have to be bold with this next appointment.
And I just hope they’ve got someone there now that actually knows enough about the women’s game to make an informed choice. Otherwise we’re going nowhwere