Carla Ward: Birmingham City head coach resigns after one season at WSL club

Carla Ward led Birmingham City to three wins and six draws in their 22 Women's Super League matches

Carla Ward has resigned as Birmingham City head coach and will leave the club after Sunday's Women's FA Cup tie with Southampton.

Ward, 37, took over at the start of the season having previously been in charge at Sheffield United.

Blues finished second-from-bottom of the Women's Super League table, avoiding relegation on the final day.

Ward's season in charge was dogged by off-field problems over playing and training conditions at the club.

Last month players wrote to Birmingham City's hierarchy to protest at the differences in facilities and resources provided for the women's team and the men's side at the club.

In January, they pulled out of a WSL fixture at Tottenham because of a shortage of available players due to injury, and were only able to name one substitute for the return game on the final day of the season.

The team also had some fixtures at their Damson Park home postponed this season because of the poor condition of the surface.

And Blues had a point deducted for fielding an ineligible player in their draw with Reading on 25 April.

"When I walked through the door last August, with the opportunity to manage in the WSL for the first time, I couldn't have predicted what the next year would look like," Ward told the club website.

"It's been some journey and one I'm immensely proud of.

"I've been so fortunate to work with a group of players who have delivered every single day, taught me so much and are a credit to the club and the WSL."

Blues general manager Sarah Westwood added: "I would like to put on record my thanks to Carla for her efforts and dedication to the position throughout the season.

"It has been a challenging year given the absence of Bluenoses from any of our fixtures, with Carla galvanising the players and staff to achieve what nobody outside of the football club deemed possible.

"We respect her decision and wish her all the best for the future."

Ward departure heralds uncertain time for Birmingham - analysis

Emma Sanders, BBC Sport reporter

On Friday morning, Ward and her staff broke the news of their departures to the players in an emotional meeting.

The futures of the majority of the players also remain unknown - with many out of contract - and Ward's departure will have been a huge blow.

Birmingham's achievement of staying in the WSL was nothing short of exceptional given the issues the players and staff had to deal with off the pitch.

There were just eight senior players in the squad when Ward took over in the summer and there had been fears the women's team would fold.

She called upon favours from other WSL managers - bringing in young talent like Emily Murphy from Chelsea and Ruby Mace from Arsenal on loan - to get a squad together for the season.

Ward herself described the team as "a group of misfits", a term the players have fondly adopted when talking about themselves.

That togetherness ultimately kept them in the league, despite Ward often having a squad of less than 14 players available for matchdays. It is a worrying uncertain time for Birmingham.