LCFC Women 2025/26 Season

[davieG]

https://shekicks.net/rick-passmoor-leicester-city-notts-county-leeds-united/

Rick Passmoor set to take over as interim Leicester City manager
2nd September 2025 Carrie Dunn
 

Reports suggest that the confirmation is imminent.

Passmoor was most recently assistant coach to Rehanne Skinner at West Ham United, but has a long track record in the women’s game.

He has had two spells as manager of Leeds United Ladies. In the first, from 2007, he led his side to the Women’s FA Cup final and finished third in the FA Women’s Premier League (the domestic top tier prior to the launch of the Women’s Super League) in 2007-08. In the second, starting in the 2022-23 season, the team won the FA Women’s National League Plate. Players who progressed through Passmoor’s Leeds side included future Lionesses Ellen White, Steph Houghton, Jade Moore, Carly Telford and Jess Clarke, current Ireland coach Carla Ward, and noted co-commentator Lucy Ward.

In the WSL era, Passmoor was manager of Lincoln Ladies, who became Notts County Women before they withdrew from the league in 2017. Their 2015 season was notably successful, reaching the finals of the Women’s FA Cup and the League Cup.

A player with Scunthorpe United in the mid-1980s, Passmoor has also worked in men’s football, initially with the Iron as an assistant and with the youth set-up. In 2000, he moved to Leeds United as senior academy coach, working with young players who went on to the professional game, including Sam Byram, Kalvin Phillips, Fabian Delph, Tom Cairney and Lewis Cook, as well as his work with the women’s team.

Passmoor returned to Scunthorpe United in 2018, first as youth development manager and later as head of coaching and coach development.

Leicester City’s managerial merry-go-round
Leicester City announced the departure of previous manager Amandine Miquel last week. She took over in July 2024, and led the side to a 10th-place finish, with 20 points from 22 games.

A statement from the club at the time thanked Miquel and her assistant Amaury Messuwe, wishing them the best for the future, and added: “The squad continues its preparations under the wider coaching team ahead of the new WSL season.”

They are now seeking their fifth permanent manager in four years following the tenures of Jonathan Morgan, Lydia Bedford, Willie Kirk and Miquel.

Matt Beard, the former Liverpool manager, left his role at Burnley last week after two months and had been linked with the role, but has been placed on three months of gardening leave.

Leicester City begin their WSL campaign with a visit to Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday, September 7th.

 

[SK3Blue]

What a shambles, Beard has properly peed Burnley off and it looks like December then when he gets in the door, just in time for the winter break.  Genius decision making. 

[Lineker's Lugs]

I remember Rick Passmoor as manager of Lincoln/Notts County when I used to go and watch them regularly.  He really micro-managed what happened on the pitch, telling players to move two yards to the left or whatever, even when that player was the then England captain Casey Stoney.  One of those coaches that never shuts up and probably ends up being ignored as his constant instructions become background noise.

 

That’s quite a few years ago now though, maybe he’s mellowed.  And in fairness, he was reasonably successful.

 

Do we think Matt Beard is really twiddling his thumbs, or is he (in a ‘nothing to see here, guv’ kind of way) having a say in preparations with Rick Passmoor as his proxy?

[CosbehFox]

Really progressive how the club has doubled down on the past era of Women’s football which was fraught with bullying. Not that we don’t have a history with that. 
 

I thought we were a family club yet three managers out of the way due to behaviour towards the playing staff. Now going after a couple of blokes who should be left behind 

[lcfcrinaldi]

6 hours ago, Lineker's Lugs said:

I remember Rick Passmoor as manager of Lincoln/Notts County when I used to go and watch them regularly.  He really micro-managed what happened on the pitch, telling players to move two yards to the left or whatever, even when that player was the then England captain Casey Stoney.  One of those coaches that never shuts up and probably ends up being ignored as his constant instructions become background noise.

 

That’s quite a few years ago now though, maybe he’s mellowed.  And in fairness, he was reasonably successful.

 

Do we think Matt Beard is really twiddling his thumbs, or is he (in a ‘nothing to see here, guv’ kind of way) having a say in preparations with Rick Passmoor as his proxy?

I did wonder if maybe he was going to be Beard's no.2, so maybe gives some semblance of continuity when he does actually take over, assuming that it's still a goer.

 

Can't see that he's worked with Beard before though.

[Pita]

8 hours ago, SK3Blue said:

What a shambles, Beard has properly peed Burnley off and it looks like December then when he gets in the door, just in time for the winter break.  Genius decision making. 

That’s the way our club is run, pi$$ up in a brewery comes to mind 

[Alan M]

So not only have we sacked our perfectly functional women's team coach a week before the season starts, we can't even get the person the DoF wants in to replace her yet, so we're going with an assistant at West Ham who is 'stepping back from the club for family reasons '... You couldn't make this level of incompetence up...

[Lineker's Lugs]

1 hour ago, lcfcrinaldi said:

I did wonder if maybe he was going to be Beard's no.2, so maybe gives some semblance of continuity when he does actually take over, assuming that it's still a goer.

 

Can't see that he's worked with Beard before though.

I had the same thought but I think Beard believes in giving female coaches opportunities on his staff.  Beard and Passmoor would be a bit of a prehistoric combination.

 

[SK3Blue]

I guess they will announce Passmore at the same time they announce Ruby’s departure, anything to distract the news of her going! 
 

Some of the girls I went to away games with saw a friend of Ruby’s on Sunday at a Wolves ladies game, and she confirmed she’s definitely gone. 
 

How on earth can you prep for a game in these circumstances!
 

 

[lcfcrinaldi]

27 minutes ago, SK3Blue said:

I guess they will announce Passmore at the same time they announce Ruby’s departure, anything to distract the news of her going! 
 

Some of the girls I went to away games with saw a friend of Ruby’s on Sunday at a Wolves ladies game, and she confirmed she’s definitely gone. 
 

How on earth can you prep for a game in these circumstances!
 

 

It's a huge shame that we've sold her, I really would love to know the rationale behind it.

I know everyone's first thought is "the club are clueless" ect... But I really don't think we'd let one of our best players leave unless there was a good reason.

Maybe there was a bit of an Isak-ness about it?

 

I don’t claim to know Mace as a person, but reading her body language, she didn't seem to show that she enjoyed herself here, even despite being a fan favourite. But maybe she is just quite like a dry person and doesn't really show her emotions like that (nothing wrong with it, just wondering).

[SK3Blue]

45 minutes ago, lcfcrinaldi said:

It's a huge shame that we've sold her, I really would love to know the rationale behind it.

I know everyone's first thought is "the club are clueless" ect... But I really don't think we'd let one of our best players leave unless there was a good reason.

Maybe there was a bit of an Isak-ness about it?

 

I don’t claim to know Mace as a person, but reading her body language, she didn't seem to show that she enjoyed herself here, even despite being a fan favourite. But maybe she is just quite like a dry person and doesn't really show her emotions like that (nothing wrong with it, just wondering).

There’s a chance that she thought she might be playing in the lower division next season which would of course take her out of the England spotlight too, so maybe she forced the move.We will never know. 
 

I did think the same last season, she would often evade the kids asking for photos until the last day of the season, got the impression she was a bit aloof off the pitch, you would still rather have her on your team though, she has a great future and could go on to be one of the great 6s for England, 

[davieG]

Didn't someone say this is the last year of her contract? If so getting £100k + for her is surely better than nothing in 12 months time.

 

You've got to hope they use some of it to improve the rest of the squad.

[Jimmy]

4 hours ago, davieG said:

Didn't someone say this is the last year of her contract? If so getting £100k + for her is surely better than nothing in 12 months time.

 

You've got to hope they use some of it to improve the rest of the squad.

She's signed a 2 year deal when she joined this is year 2

[SK3Blue]

You would hope that given her age, the breakthrough into the England team and the fact she is a key player in a midfield that’s already short on numbers, a contract extension would have been offered by the club. 
 

What I find baffling is why Everton? Could understand it more if they had European Football perhaps, the only outcome here is that she’ll probably play in all of their games as she would have done here.  
 

Other factors, her fee is being used to sort the manager debacle, or she was, like Petermann and Rantala, unhappy with rehab.

 

The fee is considerably more than 100k but we took 180k for Kop from Spurs, there’s no way we paid that for Hlin and the Karla Torres loan. There’s lots of money saved with all the outgoings. Nothing coming in player wise, if they get a couple of injuries in midfield or defence it’ll be a worse situation than last year. 
 

[CosbehFox]

1 hour ago, SK3Blue said:

You would hope that given her age, the breakthrough into the England team and the fact she is a key player in a midfield that’s already short on numbers, a contract extension would have been offered by the club. 
 

What I find baffling is why Everton? Could understand it more if they had European Football perhaps, the only outcome here is that she’ll probably play in all of their games as she would have done here.  
 

Other factors, her fee is being used to sort the manager debacle, or she was, like Petermann and Rantala, unhappy with rehab.

 

The fee is considerably more than 100k but we took 180k for Kop from Spurs, there’s no way we paid that for Hlin and the Karla Torres loan. There’s lots of money saved with all the outgoings. Nothing coming in player wise, if they get a couple of injuries in midfield or defence it’ll be a worse situation than last year. 
 

Back up to the North-West where she was previously? Her partner and support network might be up from that area now? 

[davieG]

https://womenfootball.blog/leicester-city-eye-australian-international-ahead-of-deadline-day/

 

Leicester City Eye Australian International Ahead of Deadline Day

Tom Garry reports that Leicester City are hoping to sign Emily van Egmond from WSL 2 club Birmingham City. The Australian international joined Birmingham in January 2025 after leaving NWSL […]

samnihof

3 September 2025

1 minute

Tom Garry reports that Leicester City are hoping to sign Emily van Egmond from WSL 2 club Birmingham City. The Australian international joined Birmingham in January 2025 after leaving NWSL side San Diego Wave, where she made 70 appearances across all competitions. Van Egmond signed a 2.5-year deal with Birmingham and narrowly missed out on promotion to the WSL after London City Lionesses beat them to it. Now, the Australian midfielder could still return to England’s top flight if Leicester City are able to strike a deal. She previously played in the WSL during the 2020/21 season, when she was loaned to West Ham United before signing permanently.

Leicester City Sack Head Coach

If Van Egmond signs for Leicester City, her head coach remains uncertain. The club sacked Amandine Miquel just 11 days before their WSL opener against Manchester United on Sunday, September 7.

Miquel, who had only been in charge for one season, secured a 10th-place finish last term, ensuring the club’s survival in the WSL. An experienced manager with seven years at the helm of Reims in France, she had signed a three-year deal with Leicester, which has now been cut short. Reports suggest the club are eyeing Matt Beard as her replacement.

Leicester City Women Transfer News

Leicester have also announced the signing of Heather Payne on a two-year deal. The Republic of Ireland international spent the past two seasons with Everton in the Women’s Super League. 

She began her career with Peamount United before moving to Bristol City in 2018. Payne then spent four years in the American college system before signing for Everton in 2023. On the international stage, she has earned more than 50 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

[davieG]

Man Utd Women's Fixtures On TV In The UK

Live Football On TV

The Manchester United Women v Leicester City Women game will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports+. 

[lcfcrinaldi]

Ruby's posted her farewell message;

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOIio18jIax/?igsh=MWpzM2UzOGx6YmJwaA==

[bellab]

Gutted about Ruby. She'll be a massive loss. But don't blame her!

 

This (behind paywall) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/09/03/womens-super-league-club-guide-chelsea-arsenal-man-utd/ puts Leicester as least prepared for the start of the season, unsurprisingly.. 

 

Anyone know if Rantala has played in any of the friendlies? Her fitness might be crucial.

 

Feel quite depressed about the upcoming season to be honest. Going to be really hard picking up any points with the current squad.

[lcfcrinaldi]

4 hours ago, SK3Blue said:

You would hope that given her age, the breakthrough into the England team and the fact she is a key player in a midfield that’s already short on numbers, a contract extension would have been offered by the club. 
 

What I find baffling is why Everton? Could understand it more if they had European Football perhaps, the only outcome here is that she’ll probably play in all of their games as she would have done here.  
 

Other factors, her fee is being used to sort the manager debacle, or she was, like Petermann and Rantala, unhappy with rehab.

 

The fee is considerably more than 100k but we took 180k for Kop from Spurs, there’s no way we paid that for Hlin and the Karla Torres loan. There’s lots of money saved with all the outgoings. Nothing coming in player wise, if they get a couple of injuries in midfield or defence it’ll be a worse situation than last year. 
 

I think with the "why Everton?" question, I think they fancy themselves as the new Brighton in investing in their womens team considerably since the new owners came in. I think they are hoping to challenge the top 4/5.

 

Mad that deadline day is tomorrow and yet aside from the rumour about van egmont, we've heard nothing else about in-commers.

[lcfcrinaldi]

29 minutes ago, bellab said:

Gutted about Ruby. She'll be a massive loss. But don't blame her!

 

This (behind paywall) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/09/03/womens-super-league-club-guide-chelsea-arsenal-man-utd/ puts Leicester as least prepared for the start of the season, unsurprisingly.. 

 

Anyone know if Rantala has played in any of the friendlies? Her fitness might be crucial.

 

Feel quite depressed about the upcoming season to be honest. Going to be really hard picking up any points with the current squad.

I thought we started to get it together after the contract renewals and getting some new signings in, fast forward a couple of weeks later and yes, we're in disseray. And with deadline day tomorrow, doesn't look like it will improve much.

 

Hearing a lot of other pundits expectations being the same, in that we are just too thin of a squad and almost all putting us bottom.

[Lineker's Lugs]

Leicester are in a bit of a Groucho Marx situation now - any player willing to join is probably not worth signing.

 

No (permanent) manager and two of the three best players sold from a squad that was already consistent relegation battlers.  What self-respecting player of any quality would fancy that?

 

Still, let’s see what/who tomorrow brings.

[moore_94]

 

[moore_94]

 

Edited 3 September 2025 by moore_94

[davieG]

 

 

Minimum salaries breakthrough for WSL and WSL 2

BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Minimum salaries for players in the top two tiers of professional women's football in England are being introduced for the first time this season.

It is one of the requirements brought in by WSL Football - the company overseeing England's professional leagues.

WSL Football would not disclose what the minimum level will be, but it is described as a "full-time wage".

It is expected the salary range will be made public when the updated WSL and WSL 2 regulations are published later this season.

The salaries will be based on thresholds such as the age of players, what league they are playing in, and their experience in the game following consultation with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).

"We feel that's a really positive move. We have so many players who have had to juggle part-time roles while playing football," WSL Football's chief operating officer Holly Murdoch told BBC Sport.

"Being able to ensure all our players can earn a full-time wage from football is very, very important. I would say it's the start as it's a framework we can develop on.

"We have worked really closely with the PFA on what those thresholds should look like. We will be reviewing that constantly."

On top of minimum salary requirements, clubs must meet increased criteria around high-performance environments.

It comes after a multi-year partnership was agreed between WSL Football and Nike. Part of the agreement will see Nike provide football boots and goalkeeper gloves to all players in the WSL and WSL 2 who do not have an endorsement deal.

There is also a new collaboration with external company Kyniska Advocacy - an athlete-led organisation aimed at evolving new standards for safeguarding.

All players will gain access to their confidential support service as an independent route for raising welfare concerns.

"We know that due to the fact the game has grown so rapidly, we have disparity. Part of that creates a competitive advantage, so there are elements we have to mandate," added Murdoch.

"One of the requirements will be to have a 'performance wellbeing' role. We will be asking all clubs to employ that role full-time by the end of this season.

"We want to make sure we are preparing our players for life on the pitch, both mentally and physically, as well as off it. That role is critical."

The 2025-26 WSL season begins on Friday as champions Chelsea face Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, on the back of England winning a second consecutive European Championship title.