Steve Kirby has departed Bristol City Women after the Robins’ season concluded nine days agoSteve Kirby has left Bristol City eight months after arriving at Ashton Gate(Image: Photo by Ben Roberts – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Bristol City Women have confirmed that head coach Steve Kirby has departed the football club following the conclusion of the 2024/25 season.

The Robins’ domestic campaign came to an end nine days ago when the Reds slipped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat away to Durham to finish sixth in the Women’s Championship, 13 points adrift of champions London City Lionesses.

Kirby was appointed as Lauren Smith’s permanent replacement in September of last year, putting pen to paper on a two-year deal at Ashton Gate, having spent the previous two seasons as part of the coaching staff at Women’s Super League side Leicester City. After a disappointing defeat away to London City Lionesses in his first game in charge, the 39-year-old helped City win seven of their next nine league matches to sit level on points with Birmingham City at the top of the table after 12 games.

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However, the Reds picked up just one win in their final eight Championship matches, which saw them fall down the table and well adrift of the battle for promotion at the top of the division.

“Bristol City Women can confirm Steve Kirby has left his post as head coach with immediate effect,” the club said in an official statement. “Kirby joined the Robins September of last year, with the team finishing in sixth position in the 2024/25 Barclays Women’s Championship.”

City’s Women chair Gavin Marshall added: “We would like to thank Steve for his hard work and professionalism over the past seven month and wish him all the very best in his future career.

“Our priority now is to find the best candidate to push us forward for next season in WSL2.”

Despite missing out on promotion to the top tier of the women’s game last season, City will be playing in what is a slightly different competition next season. Rather than the Women’s Championship, the second tier will be known as the Women’s Super League 2 from the start of the 2025/26 campaign, with the two divisions brought together under one umbrella.

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