Women not getting enough opportunities in football – Brighton interim boss Amy Merricks

Brighton & Hove Albion Women interim manager Amy Merricks believes that female coaches are not getting enough opportunities in the game.

Merricks has been at the club for eight years and became the first team assistant manager in December 2016.

However, with only five female bosses in the Women’s Super League, including Merricks, the 29-year-old believes that more needs to be done to ensure that more women are able to get roles in football.

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Speaking on The Athletic Women’s Football Podcast, Merricks said: “I just don’t think they’re getting the opportunities.

“I think there are plenty of good female coaches in the game and I don’t think they’re being recognised or given the opportunities or the support to flourish.

“It’s so challenging for female coaches to get the appropriate opportunities at this point.

“So much more needs to be done, we can’t stop talking about it. It’s not good enough.

“We need more opportunities for females and we need to support the females that are currently in those roles.”

Merricks, who worked under former Brighton manager Hope Powell, previously admitted that she had to make time to fit in studying for her UEFA Pro Licence while simultaneously working at the club.

The former Millwall coach believes that work must be done to change the view of female coaches in football, encouraging talk of women in senior roles within football clubs.

She added: “I do sometimes think we’re maybe not taken as seriously as we should be.

“I think we have to change the perceptions of female coaches in the game in general.

“Unless they are given the opportunities on the stage and support they need to strive then we’re going to constantly be having the same conversations.”

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