Leicester sack Willie Kirk after investigation into alleged relationship with player

Willie Kirk joined Leicester as director of football in July 2022 and took over as manager four months later. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters

Leicester have sacked manager Willie Kirk after an investigation into an alleged relationship with a player.

The Guardian revealed on 8 March that Kirk had been suspended while the club carried out an investigation into an alleged relationship with one of his squad members.

The manager was then absent from the team’s 2-0 defeat of Liverpool, which earned the a place in the FA Cup semi-finals, where they will play Tottenham, with the assistant manager, Jennifer Foster, and first-team coach, Stephen Kirby, taking charge. They have since lost the two leagues they have played, against Tottenham and Brighton.

The 45-year-old Kirk joined Leicester as director of football in July 2022 and became manager after the departure of Lydia Bedford four months later.

When Kirk took charge of Leicester they had played six games without collecting a point but he guided them to safety, finishing the season on 16 points, above Brighton and relegated Reading.

Relationships between managers and players in women’s football have been in the spotlight since Kirk’s suspension. It is the second time a manager has been investigated and sacked this year, with Sheffield United relieving Jonathan Morgan of his duties for an alleged relationship with a player during his time at Leicester, before the club was professional and affiliated with the men’s side.