Essex County Women's League Football Forum

[Sunday at 2]

Akers - This could be end of Arsenal Ladies

Arsenal Ladies manager Vic Akers is facing the biggest challenge of his 20 years at the top of the women’s game. The introduction of a new professional League in America may mean his best players leave Emirates Stadium.

It was announced on Thursday that Kelly Smith and Karen Carney have already been allocated to Boston Breakers and Chicago Red Stars in an international draft. This is before contact has been made with the Club or their release approved by Arsenal.

At the same time, the Football Association have announced proposals for:

the launch of a Summer Super League in 2010
national players to be centrally contracted
women's performance manager to be appointed leading to a women's performance unit
The Arsenal manager is in his last season in charge of the first-team. Next season, he intends to move upstairs to take on a ‘Director of Football’-type role.

However before that, these changes need to be either countered or catered for.