Brighton & Hove Albion manager Hope Powell has stepped down from her position as first team manager after five years with the club.
The Seagulls announced the news via an update on their official club website this evening.
Powell’s departure comes off the back of a difficult start to the season for the club. Brighton & Hove Albion have lost four of their opening five matches in this season’s Barclays Women’s Super League while they were also defeated by second tier side Birmingham City in the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup. Powell’s final match in charge of the Sussex club came as they were defeated 8-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in a Barclays Women’s Super League fixture at Broadfield Stadium yesterday.
There have been a number of factors behind Brighton & Hove Albion’s poor start to the new campaign. The early season fixture list was unkind to the club with four of The Seagulls’ opening five matches being against teams who finished in the top six last season, while the club struggled to get some of their transfer targets in the summer. Injuries to senior players have also played their part, although the situation has improved in recent weeks.
In her five years as manager, Powell has overseen Brighton & Hove Albion’s transition from the Barclays Women’s Championship into the Barclays Women’s Super League while the club recorded a best-ever finish of sixth place in the top flight in 2020/2021.
The club will now begin their search for a new first team manager. Powell’s assistant Amy Merricks will oversee first team matters during the recruitment process and will be supported by Alex Penny and Perry Northeast.
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