Jo Potter's surprising Rangers exit may suit both parties

The National

8 hours ago

The former England internationalist missed out on the SWPL title with two last day heartaches; Hibs nicked it from them at Ibrox last month while Celtic claimed it with a last minute goal the season before.
Potter won four trophies at Rangers with a double each season and although there were questions asked that the team with the biggest budget in the league did not claim the championship, the understanding is that internally Potter retained the full support of the club.
Indeed, the Ibrox side were keen to keep her rather than take the fairly meagre compensation on offer from Crystal Palace as she looks to take the London club back up to the top flight.
There were accusations among some of the support that Rangers lacked the mentality to get over the line in terms of coping with the pressures that go hand-in-hand with winning a Championship. To that end, this parting of the ways may suit both parties.
And while people will point to the lack of a title, particularly given Rangers' resources, Potter was influential in helping to establish the foundations of an under-20 side while the staff for the women's side went up by 30%.
Jo Potter won four cups while at Rangers (Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group)
Affable, articulate and straightforward to deal with, there was always a suggestion of Potter appreciating the magnitude of the job in Scotland to properly elevate the game and the profile of the women's game. At times she offered some compelling insight on this, all the more so since her time with England came before the burst of interest that the Lionesses have enjoyed since winning the Euros.
There was always a sense that she would cut her managerial teeth in the SWPL before heading back across the border.
But it is no bad reflection on the SWPL to have key personnel in terms of players and managers attracting attention.
Fran Alonso claimed a bold move to the States on the back of what he achieved at Celtic – short-lived and also without winning a title – while there remains a pathway for players to head to the riches of England.
The current crop of exciting young players who are emerging into the national team will all harbour quiet ambitions of going on to play at a level where things on and off the park feel significantly elevated from what they are in the SWPL.
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As the league still struggles to find its feet in terms of moving towards an entirely professional structure which still feels light years away, the reality is that the pull of England will always be seen as life changing.
One suspects she would have given a huge seal of approval to the decision to play as many home SWPL games as possible at Ibrox this season. Aside from illustrating the club's commitment to the women's game, it also facilitates supporters who are at ease with Ibrox and its surrounds.
Aside from anything else, the example of Arsenal south of the border would show that it is a massive step in the right direction.
AND ANOTHER THING
Elena Sadiku's gig at the Euros in her Swedish homeland will offer the Celtic boss the chance to get inside a tournament that some of her charges did not.
As Scotland find themselves on the outside looking in again this summer as another major competition kicks off, Sadiku at least will have a ringside seat.
The Celtic manager will work with Swedish TV to cover the tournament, which kicks off in Switzerland next week.
It will also provide an opportunity to keep her profile high on the back of a year in which she found it elevated through a FIFA Best nomination and Champions League participation with Celtic.
It will be interesting to see, however, what effect it may have on Celtic's pre-season schedule – and whether she is back from media duties to oversee the countdown to the season kicking off.
This week the club announced a parting of the ways with seven players while discussions are ongoing with another three. One of those released scored the goal that took Celtic into the Champions League this season.
Sadiku had suggested at the back of the last campaign that the players who had not improved were those that she had not signed for Celtic. Of those released this week, Sadiku did not sign any of them.
The confirmation this week that Stewart McGuire is the new Head of Women's Football Operations should signal the beginning of the foundations going down for the start of the new season.
One can only assume there has been a list of targets left on his desk.
AND FINALLY
Save us the hand wringing over the Swiss women's team losing to FC Lucern's under-15s.
Having also lost 2-1 to under-15 side FC Solothurn as they prepare for the Euros, there has been much laughing and pointing across social media as obviously this clearly identifies just how poor the standard of the women's game is, right?
The only thing it shows is the difference in physiology between male and female athletes.
It is not about skill or tactics or ability but rather a differential in muscle mass, strength and testosterone levels.
In the same way that male and female tennis games focus on different attributes – Serena Williams said it was two different sports – women's football cannot be held up and compared to the men's.