Former Liverpool boss Matt Beard set to be named manager of third-tier club | OneFootball

Former Liverpool boss Matt Beard is set to become the manager of Burnley. (Natalie Mincher/SPP)

Former Liverpool boss Matt Beard is set to be appointed as manager of third-tier side Burnley Women.

Beard has been without a job since he was sacked by Women’s Super League side Liverpool in February.

Burnley meanwhile have been without a permanent manager since Rebecca Sawiuk left the club in March.

The BBC report that Burnley are set to hire Beard in what will be a major coup for the Clarets.

The Clarets went on to finish fourth in the FA Women’s National League, missing out on promotion by 12 points to champions Nottingham Forest.

Beard has a lot of experience in the women’s game having also managed Chelsea, West Ham, Boston Breakers, and an interim spell with Bristol City.

During his first spell with Liverpool, he guided them to back-to-back Women’s Super League (WSL) titles in 2013 and 2014. He returned to the Merseyside club in 2021, and guided them back to the WSL a year later.

Matt Beard move shows statement of intent from Burnley

The potential hiring of former Chelsea and Liverpool manager Matt Beard is a statement of intent from Burnley Women.

The Clarets, after missing out on promotion to the Championship, recently announced they will become fully professional next season.

Chairman Alan Pace said last month: “It’s important that we now provide the resources required to go full-time and give those involved the opportunity to progress to the next level.

“We see both the men’s and women’s teams as being important now and forever, and this move aims to accelerate the women further along their development timeline.”

Burnley Women failed in their bid to take Blackburn’s place in the WSL2, after the latter announced they were withdrawing from the league.

Sheffield United were immediately reinstated to the WSL2 despite their relegation at the end of last year.

Why was Matt Beard sacked by Liverpool?

Matt Beard was sacked by Liverpool in February, with the club seventh in the WSL at that moment in time.

The club had suffered a decline from the previous season where they finished fourth. Liverpool were just nine points above bottom-side Crystal Palace when Beard left the club.

A club statement said: “We have experienced some fantastic moments with Matt as manager of LFC Women and we express our gratitude for his significant contribution.

“Our priority was to return this team to where it belongs and we achieved that in 2022 by winning promotion.

“We need to build on that momentum. Although this has been a difficult decision, we believe it provides us with the best opportunity for future success.”

Beard was replaced by interim boss Amber Whiteley and Liverpool would go on to finish seventh in the WSL.