Bristol Academy have parted company with head coach Dave Edmondson with immediate effect.
A board meeting took place on Thursday to review the recent performances of the team and as a result it was mutually agreed that a new head coach should be appointed.
Edmondson replaced Mark Sampson who left in 2013 to take over from Hope Powell as manager of England Women. Under Sampson the Vixen’s finished runners-up in WSL 1 and qualified for the Champions League.
Bristol lost several key players in the closed season and this has shown in recent performances. They have lost all three league games, been knocked out of the FA Women’s Cup by Everton, and crashed out of the Champions League quarter-finals 12-0 on aggregate against Frankfurt.
Assistant first team coach Lauren Smith will now take over on an interim basis assisted by goalkeeping coach John Granville.
Simon Arnold, Chairman of Bristol Academy WFC said:
“Success at Bristol Academy is judged by what happens within our whole club, from the centre of excellence, supporters club, the match day experience, youth development and of course first team results.
“I think it is clear to everyone, we had started to lose our way and despite Dave’s efforts we were seeing a decline in areas which need to be addressed sooner rather than later.
“It was a difficult decision for us as he is an honest, hardworking and talented coach but sometimes things just don’t happen the way you want them to and we have no choice but to make a change.
“Dave goes with our thanks and we wish him all the very best in the future. We will now begin the task of selecting a successor and an announcement will take place when this has been completed.”
