Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has spoken to the media for the first time since news of her exit was announced.
Hayes will leave her position at the end of the season after spending 12 years with the South West Londoners. She has been heavily linked with a move into international management with the United States.
Hayes sat down with the media at Cobham this afternoon. She spoke about how she has given her life to Chelsea but the time is now right to move on and spend more time with her family.
“I’ve been in post for 12 years and I have dedicated my life to this place,” Hayes said. “I’ve driven four hours every day, six days a week for 12 years. I have a five-year-old who needs more of his mummy for sure, that’s important, family matters.
“I’ve dedicated as much as I possibly can to this football club. I’ve loved every minute of it and I think it is really important that, if possible, we can create a succession plan for me, much like Paul (Green) and I do for the players.
“The time is right and I will work with the club in the succession plan and do everything that I can to ensure that there is as good a transition as possible, so that my successor can equally have the same level of success as I have had.”
Going on to discuss the succession plan further, Hayes said that she will be involved in identifying her replacement, although the club will take their time when going through the process.
She said “Paul Green and I have run succession planning in this club all of the time that I’ve been here. It would be so Chelsea to succession plan my exit.
“Of course, I will be involved in those conversations. I think it is really important that we take the time to evaluate what the best fit will be; it’s not about like-for-like replacements or anything like that, it’s usually the wrong thing to do.
“It’s about identifying what the needs are for the position, for the team and for the club. Collectively, we will do that together.”
While Hayes’ news is now public knowledge, Chelsea must continue to pursue four trophies this season. The Blues boss says that the club are united in their aims for further success.
“I want to make sure that I maintain my professionalism in everything that I do,” she said. “I have a team to focus on, games to win and I don’t think anything will come between me and the players or me and the fans.
“I understand Chelsea, I know Chelsea, this is my club and it will always be my club. While I am sad on many levels, I have always said to the fans that there will come that moment when I am sat with them in the crowd. I look forward to that come the end of the season.
“For now, the focus is as always, on games. The players are committed with me to ensure that we focus on maintaining our position.”
Chelsea continue the season with a Barclays Women’s Super League fixture at Everton on Sunday afternoon.
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