MANCHESTER CITY have brought the curtain down on Gareth Taylor’s reign as manager of their Women’s Super League side.
Today the club announced their decision to part ways with the head coach, 52, just under a week before their League Cup decider duel with Chelsea.
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Former City Women’s boss Nick Cushing will return to take charge of the side on a temporary basis.
The Chester-born head coach managed City for seven years from 2013 guiding the team to their first and only WSL title triumph to date in 2016.
Taylor’s departure comes with the Cityzens currently sitting fourth in the top tier after winning 10 of the 16 league games they have played so far this term.
The team are fourth and one point and one place outside of the WSL’s top three spots for Champions League qualification.
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This follows them losing four and drawing two of their league games this season.
In a statement, Man City’s women’s managing director Charlotte O’Neill said: “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.”
City’s decision to end Taylor’s reign comes just over 12 months after he signed a three-year deal with the club to remain in charge of their women’s side.
During his tenure of almost five years at City’s helm, Taylor guided the team to an FA Cup win after a 3-1 defeat of Everton in May 2020.
This was followed by a League Cup triumph in March 2022 when his side beat Emma Hayes’ Chelsea 3-1 at Plough Lane.
This season Man City have lost ground in the race for the WSL title with leaders Chelsea 12 points ahead at the summit.
Recent results include a 1-1 draw with ninth-placed West Ham on March 5 with Manuela Pavi netting a stoppage-time equaliser following Khadija Shaw’s 80th-minute goal.
Away from the pitch City were at the centre of a dramatic transfer saga this January with Chloe Kelly sealing a loan move to Arsenal.
The departure of the forward, who netted England’s tournament-winning goal at the 2022 Euros, followed her struggle for minutes this term.
After making six WSL appearances for the team this season, Kelly issued a bombshell exit plea before making her January 30 Arsenal switch.
Her current contract with City, whom she joined in July 2020, is set to expire in June.
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Since joining the Gunners the forward netted her first league goal of the season in their 4-3 defeat of West Ham last weekend.
On Sunday Man City reached the semis of this year’s FA Cup after beating Aston Villa 2-0 in the quarter-final.
They will face neighbours Man United in the contest’s semi-finals next month.
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