Aston Villa Women manager Carla Ward will leave the club at the end of this season.
Ward has been in charge at Villa for the past three years and says president of football operations Monchi and director of football Damian Vidagany tried to convince her to remain at the club.
“To step down from my post here at Aston Villa has been the hardest decision of my managerial career, but I know it is the right one for my family and I,” the 40-year-old said.
“Managing a great club like Aston Villa has been a full-throttle job and I have always given the role 100 per cent dedication. However, I now believe it is the right time for me to prioritise the other important things — such as my daughter and the rest of my family life.
“I am immensely grateful to Monchi and Damian Vidagany who tried so hard to encourage me to stay in the role, but I know it is the right time to step down after our last game of the season.”
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Ward’s Villa finished ninth in the Women’s Super League in the 2021-22 season before recording a club-high fifth-place finish a year later. This season, Villa are seventh with two matches remaining.
“Carla came to us a few weeks ago and spoke of…
