Willie Kirk, a former manager of Leicester Women’s first team, has stated that since being fired for having an affair with a player, he has been treated like a “criminal.”
After a dismal start to the WSL season, Kirk was appointed as the team’s Director of Football in July 2022 and took over as manager four months later. The 45-year-old led a remarkable FA Cup run to the semi-final this season and assisted in steering the Foxes to safety.
But in March, Kirk broke the team’s code of conduct by entering the relationship, which led to his suspension and eventual termination. Although Kirk acknowledged that he was still with the player, he expressed disappointment in the club for firing him despite owning up to his transgressions.
He told the Daily Mail, “I felt and was treated like a criminal after admitting it.” “I think the club could have handled it more skillfully. I thought there was inconsistency with earlier studies.
Even though it would have been challenging, I believed I deserved a face-to-face meeting with the players and staff to explain everything, offer my side of the story, and apologize. We’ll never know if it kept me there or not.
“This wasn’t a manager abusing their position of authority by promising to play you in the starting lineup if you jump into bed with me. It’s horrible that I’ve held this animosity, but it stems from my aggravation at not being able to talk about it.
“I haven’t done any crimes, and I’m not a criminal. I have put the ecology in danger, which is a serious matter. The team had made mistakes in the past; after I took over, we closed a points differential that had never been closed and we were still in the WSL.
They don’t want to interact with me because they realized that I made a mistake. In that regard, I felt let down by the club.” Kirk still aspires to work in women’s football even after being fired.
“After 14 years of building my reputation, for it to be destroyed by one mistake, I feel would be harsh,” said Kirk. “I regret the choice I made; it was my error, and I never should have put myself in that situation.
“I’m hoping that someone will be able to recognize my positive qualities. Next week, I’ll be speaking at a few clubs outside of the UK; perhaps, something will come of that.
