Manchester United’s head of women’s football Polly Bancroft is set to take up a position as a chief executive of League Two side Grimsby Town after informing players and staff of her decision to leave her role at the end of the season on Wednesday morning.
United and Grimsby confirmed the news in club statements following The Athletic’s initial report on Thursday.
United appointed the former Brighton & Hove general manager into a newly-created role as their head of women’s football in October 2022. Bancroft was tasked with overseeing the strategic direction, operations and performance of the women’s first team and academy. She worked closely with women’s first-team manager Marc Skinner and football director John Murtough.
Bancroft was also involved in player contracts and one of her biggest tasks upon her arrival was negotiating Alessia Russo and Ona Battle’s renewals. Last summer, Russo joined Arsenal while Batlle returned to Barcelona.
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Bancroft is not the only member of the women’s set-up to leave in the last 12 months. Skinner’s assistant Martin Ho departed last summer and took up the head coach position at Norwegian side SK Brann Kvinner on a two-year contract, guiding…
