Matt Beard: Liverpool Ladies boss named Boston Breakers coach

Matt Beard led Liverpool Ladies to their first ever Women's Champions League campaign last year, going out at the first knock-out stage

Manager Matt Beard is set to leave Liverpool Ladies to take over as the boss of Boston Breakers in the USA's National Women's Soccer League.

The 37-year-old, who led Liverpool to the 2013 and 2014 Women's Super League One titles, will remain in charge of the Reds for the start of their Champions League campaign next month.

He joins a Breakers side that finished bottom of the US top flight in 2015.

"I feel I have taken the club as far as I can," Beard said.

"The decision to leave Liverpool Ladies is one that I have thought a great deal about and was a really tough decision to make.

"Having enjoyed three fantastic years here, and having spent 11 years working in top flight of women's football in England, I feel like I need a new challenge."

With two league games remaining, Liverpool are third from bottom in WSL 1, but have reached the semi-finals of the Continental Cup.

Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre said the search for a new manager would begin immediately.

Former Charlton Ladies and Millwall Lionesses manager Beard took over at Liverpool in August 2012 after leaving Chelsea, where he spent more than three years.

Beard succeeds Tom Durkin at the Breakers after he stepped down earlier this month to work as director of coaching at the club's academy.

After finishing second from bottom in 2014, the Breakers were bottom this season with just four wins from 20 games.