One year after being dismissed as Leicester City Women’s manager for breaching the club’s code of conduct, Willie Kirk is still waiting for a second chance in football.
The 46-year-old was sacked on March 28, 2024, after admitting to a relationship with a player. While he acknowledges his mistake, he remains out of work despite applying for multiple managerial positions.
"I’ve applied for every Women’s Super League and Championship vacancy since I lost my job, except for Arsenal and Manchester City," Kirk told BBC Sport. "I didn’t even get an interview."
Kirk understands why clubs have hesitated to hire him. "I let myself down at Leicester. I see why people are upset, and I understand why clubs have been reluctant," he said. "But in the grand scheme of things, I haven’t committed a serious crime. There’s no jail term, but it feels like I’m serving one."
Despite the controversy, Kirk and the player are still together and have been living together since August.
A Career Put on Hold
Kirk has spent 14 years in women’s football, managing Everton, Bristol City, and Hibernian, as well as working as an assistant at Manchester United. Before becoming Leicester’s head coach, he served as the club’s director of football.
Though he wants to return to coaching, Kirk is open to other roles and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sporting directorship.
"I’m eager to get back into the game," he said. "I haven’t achieved everything I wanted as a head coach, but I’m open to different roles, whether in the women’s or men’s game."
Still, he knows the decision isn’t in his hands. "I believe I deserve a second chance, but it’s not up to me. I just have to keep applying, keep improving, and be patient."
'I Never Said I Shouldn't Have Been Sacked'
Kirk was initially suspended on March 8, 2024—one day before Leicester’s FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool—after a complaint was lodged from outside the club. He missed three games before being officially dismissed following an investigation.
Relationships between players and coaches in women’s football have been widely criticized for the potential power imbalance they create. While not illegal, they can violate club policies, as was the case with Kirk.
"I signed the code of conduct like everyone else," he admitted. "As a first-team manager, you’re expected to lead by example, which is why I’ve never said I shouldn’t have been sacked."
Kirk revealed he was questioned about the relationship just 30 minutes before a training session. "Sometimes I wonder if I should have denied it, but that wouldn’t have sat well with me. I admitted it, and that was it."
At the time, Kirk had already separated from his ex-wife. His relationship with the player began when she was recovering from an injury. The pair traveled to Italy during the February international break, and the club was informed shortly after.
Kirk acknowledged crossing a line. "Looking back, I would have handled things differently. By the time of the investigation, we had already decided to end it until the end of the season. One of us planned to leave the club, and if we still felt the same way, we’d pursue it properly."
Despite being on a permanent contract, Kirk received no compensation as Leicester found him guilty of gross misconduct.
Lingering Regrets and a Desire to Move Forward
Since his dismissal, Kirk has only attended two Leicester games. He regrets not having the chance to say goodbye properly.
"I never got to see the staff or the players," he said. "I would have liked to apologize to everyone face-to-face. I think they felt let down."
While he would prefer to return to women’s football, Kirk acknowledges that a fresh start in the men’s game might be his best option.
"In the men’s game, I feel like I could just focus on my job without prejudice," he said. "It would be a clean break."
He remains remorseful but hopeful. "I know it will never be acceptable, but when will it be accepted that I’ve paid my price? The statistics show there’s a good manager out of work. I understand the hesitation, but at some point, someone has to believe I deserve a second chance."