Liverpool Women have parted company with their manager Matt Beard with the team seventh in the Women’s Super League.
Beard was in his second spell in charge of Liverpool after guiding them to back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014. He returned in May 2021, when they were in the Championship.
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The 47-year-old is understood to have held talks with the club over a long period and a conclusion was reached that Beard had taken the team as far as he could.
Liverpool finished fourth last season, breaking into the so-called “big four” of the WSL by finishing above Manchester United, but have been unable to repeat that form, partly because of a series of injuries.
Beard has also had spells in charge of Bristol City, as an interim manager, West Ham, whom he led to the 2019 Women’s FA Cup final, and the US club Boston Breakers.
A Liverpool statement said: “We have all experienced some fantastic moments with Matt as manager of LFC Women and we express our gratitude for his significant contribution. Our priority was to return this team to where it belongs and we collectively achieved that in 2022 by winning promotion to the WSL.
“We need to build on that momentum and although this has been a difficult decision, we believe it provides us with the best opportunity for future success on the pitch.
“The search for a new manager of LFC Women is under way with Amber Whiteley stepping into the interim LFC Women’s manager role with immediate effect.”
Liverpool travel to face the WSL’s bottom side, Crystal Palace, on Sunday.
