Latest news with #JoPotter
The Herald Scotland
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Jo Potter's surprising Rangers exit may suit both parties
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. Read more: David Murray accuses Celtic's Peter Lawwell of 'revelling' in Rangers' demise Manager admits defeat on ex-Rangers star 'out of his price range' 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.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Have Hearts got hardest start to SWPL season?
Hearts, who finished fifth last term, will face the four teams who filled the spots above them within their first six SWPL games next Olid's side face both sides of the Old Firm in the opening two weeks, kicking off their campaign at home to Celtic before a trip to take on Jambos did beat Elena Sadiku's side in both home league games last season, including a statement 3-1 win in the first post-split game, while they dealt a decisive blow to Rangers' title charge on the final day of the pre-split campaign at Broadwood, by holding Jo Potter's side to a 2-2 the pair at the start of the season, when neither have the distraction of European football, is very different, other two, who finished first and second last season - Hibernian and Glasgow City, of course - will have that one eye on the continent, the time reigning champions Hibs make the short trip across the city, they will have already faced Fortuna Hjorring and one of Apollon/Young Boys in their second round of Women's Champions League qualifying. It's worth noting Hearts had a strong record against the eventual title-winners last season - two wins and two losses in the SWPL, plus a win in the Scottish Cup. But they were defeated in both league games at Oriam, where the first meeting next season will take same rule can be applied for meetings with City. Hearts didn't pick up a positive result at Petershill Park last term but held Leanne Ross' side to a couple of stalemates in Edinburgh.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Champions Hibs open SWPL season against Aberdeen
Champions Hibernian start the defence of their Scottish Women's Premier League title at home to Aberdeen on Sunday, 17 top flight reverts to 10 teams for this coming season, changing from a 12-team Glasgow City are at home to Motherwell, while Rangers, who were pipped to the title on the final day of the season and are seeking a new head coach after Jo Potter's switch to Crystal Palace, travel to Montrose, who avoided relegation on the final day of the who were league winners in season 2023-24 but finished fourth last term, are away to Heart of Midlothian, who were champions Hamilton Academical entertain Partick Thistle. Thistle have appointed David Elliott as head coach after Brian Graham left following almost five years in the will be playing their home games at New Douglas Park despite Hamilton Academical men moving to Cumbernauld amid a dispute with the stadium five opening SWPL1 fixtures will be played on 17 August, with kick-off times still to be determined after discussions with television partners, including BBC Scotland and BBC 18 fixtures, the SWPL will split into a top six and a bottom four, with the clubs playing each other twice, once at home, once side finishing 10th will be relegated to SWPL2, while the side finishing ninth will take part in a one-off play-off final against the side coming through promotion play-offs in the second to Hibs and Glasgow's Champions League commitments, their meeting scheduled for 31 August will be moved to 1 is a derby fest on Sunday, 7 September, with the first Old Firm, Edinburgh and Lanarkshire derbies of the face Rangers at New Douglas Park, Motherwell take on Hamilton, albeit at K-Park in East Kilbride, and it is also Hearts against will be a winter break, with the final fixtures of 2025 on Sunday, 21 December and action resuming on Sunday, 18 January. SWPL opening weekend fixtures Sunday, 17 AugustGlasgow City v MotherwellHamilton Academical v Partick ThistleHeart of Midlothian v CelticHibernian v AberdeenMontrose v Rangers
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Potter to manage Palace after Rangers exit
Jo Potter has been named Crystal Palace head coach after leaving Rangers. The former England international parted ways with Rangers this week, with the Scottish club set to receive a compensation fee. Palace were relegated from the WSL in April having only come up in 2024. Two managers departed during their short spell in the top flight. Advertisement "I'm extremely honoured to join Crystal Palace and looking forward to coming in and hitting the ground running," said Potter. "I know there's huge ambition running throughout the club. I had a really good conversation with [chairman] Steve Parish and could see how important the women's team are to him and his aspirations for this club." Potter joined Rangers in 2023 - her first head coach role - after a stint as assistant manager at Birmingham City. The 40-year-old won a domestic cup double in both seasons with Rangers but missed out on the SWPL title on the final day of each campaign. Advertisement Rangers women's football managing director Donald Gillies said: "I want to sincerely thank Jo for all her efforts over her two years in charge of our women's first-team. "There is no doubt we are in a stronger position now compared to when she came in, and she leaves behind a hugely talented, young and hungry squad for the new head coach to work with."
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Rangers to lose double winning manager as English club agree compensation deal for former Lioness
The Rangers head coach leaves the SWPL after two seasons in charge at the club. Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Jo Potter will leave her role as head coach of Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) side Rangers this summer in order to become the new manager of English second-tier outfit Crystal Palace. The recently relegated Eagles are believed to have agreed a compensation package with the Gers, who have now accepted a deal that will see Potter depart the club just two years after she succeeded former boss Malky Thomson at the helm. Potter will replace Leif Smerud, who departed Palace in May. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 40-year-old head coach moved to Rangers in the summer of 2023, taking her first steps into management with the Glasgow club following a spell as assistant manager at Birmingham City. During her time at Auchenhowie, she led the Light Blues to back-to-back domestic doubles, winning the Sky Sports Cup and Scottish Women's Cup in successive years. Rangers won four trophies under the management of Jo Potter - but the SWPL continued to allude them. | SNS Group However, despite her 100 per cent success in cup competitions, the SWPL title continued to allude her during her time in Glasgow, losing the title on the final day for the second season in succession against Hibs, with Grant Scott's side sealing their first championship title since 2007 thanks to a 1-0 win at Ibrox. It mirrored Potter's debut campaign at Rangers, who were left heartbroken when Amy Gallagher's last minute winner for Celtic against Hibs meant they missed out on the title via goal difference, despite a 4-0 win at Partick Thistle.
