Manchester City Women sack head coach Gareth Taylor

Manchester City Women have sacked head coach Gareth Taylor, with former boss Nick Cushing returning to take charge on an interim basis for the rest of the season.

The news comes with City outside the Champions League places in the Women’s Super League, a point behind third-placed Arsenal in fourth, having played a game more.

Managing director Charlotte O’Neill said on the club’s official website: “Manchester City prides itself on competing at the top of the WSL and on its outstanding record of qualifying for European competition.

“Unfortunately, results this season have so far not reached this high standard.

“With six games of the WSL campaign remaining, we believe that a change of management will breathe fresh life into our bid to ensure qualification for the 2025-26 UEFA Women’s Champions League.

“We would like to place on record our thanks to Gareth for all of his efforts during his many years at City. Our FA Cup and League Cup triumphs will remain special moments in the history of this football club. We wish him all the best for the future.”

Former City forward Taylor was appointed as boss of the women’s side in 2020, succeeding Cushing, and oversaw them winning the FA Cup that year and the League Cup in 2022.

They were WSL runners-up last season, finishing behind Chelsea on goal difference on the final day of the campaign.

This term they won six of their first seven league games, but then lost four in six, and last week they were held 1-1 at West Ham.

The gap between City and leaders Chelsea currently stands at 12 points and Sunday’s 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Aston Villa proved Taylor’s final game in charge.

As well as being set to host Manchester United in the semi-finals of that competition, City are also in next Saturday’s League Cup final, and the Champions League last eight, both of which will see them take on Chelsea.

Cushing was City boss in their first WSL season in 2014 and subsequently led them to the title two years later, which remains the only time they have won it.

He also steered the team to an FA Cup and two League Cup successes before departing in 2020 to work in men’s football at New York City FC, where he had been head coach for the last two seasons before being sacked in November.