Bristol City ready for promotion challenge - Kirby

Stephen Kirby (far right) took over as Bristol City Women's head coach in September

Bristol City head coach Stephen Kirby said the club are ready for the "challenge" of trying to be the sole team that wins promotion to the Women's Super League.

Kirby took over at Ashton Gate on 19 September following the departure of Lauren Smith on the eve of the 2024-25 season. He had previously spent two years as first-team coach at Leicester City.

The Robins were relegated this summer after just one season in the top flight. Only the club that finishes top of the table out of the 11-team Championship wins promotion.

"It's a challenge that we're ready for, it's a challenge we want to take on," Kirby told BBC Radio Bristol's Sound of the City.

"There is no alternative [to winning league.] In some senses it makes it a bit more streamlined, you know what you're going for from the start."

Bristol City have won their last two league matches under Kirby after two draws and a loss to start the season.

The Robins scored a last-minute winner against Blackburn Rovers on Sunday to win 2-1 and record their first home victory in the league since April 2023 - a record Kirby said he did not know about until after the match.

"It was crucial," Kirby added, of the win.

"The points are really important in terms of picking up wins, league position, developing confidence, developing the ability to continue our way of playing and how we want to do things and get that buy-in from the players.

"It's crucial that we win as well as learn at the same time."

Bristol City have yo-yoed between the top two tiers of women's football in recent years. They were relegated in 2021 after five years in the WSL, then won promotion in 2023 but were demoted again this May.

The club are currently seventh in the Championship, five points behind leaders Birmingham City, although with a game in hand.

"It's really really difficult [to stay in the WSL] but it's a challenge that we want, we want to get back to playing those games against those type of teams in those venues and continuing on our whole journey as a club," Kirby said.