West Ham’s Rehanne Skinner says the dearth of training opportunities for English women in the Women’s Super League “needs to be looked at across the board”.
Skinner is one of two English managers of the 12 WSL clubs. Crystal Palace’s Laura Kaminski, who joined this week following the club’s promotion from the Women’s Championship, is the alternative.
Former Tottenham boss Skinner, 44, is among the league’s most experienced coaches and has also acted as a lecturer with the Lionesses.
She says part of the problem with few English women being able to make the step up to a senior teaching role is the dearth of educational opportunities they can bring to the table to enjoy the experience.
“It’s about getting that exposure. You don’t really get that that easily. Women are helping women in the game a lot,” Skinner told BBC Recreation.
“But other clubs don’t necessarily give the same opportunities, or there are other people who don’t think the same way.
“That is part of the growth of the sport and that is why I have always supported female coaches the way I have. It needs to be reviewed across the board.
“We should make sure there is space in everyone’s coaching teams to support it. There is more than enough space within clubs to have more diversity and offer different perspectives.”
Skinner’s comments came after a BBC Game article asked whether WSL clubs were overlooking local female managers.
Birmingham Town manager Amy Merricks said it was partly because clubs were no longer offering experience options and also highlighted there were obscure managers rejected at supremacy level.
“I’ve been lucky in my career to have Hope Powell support me and give me my first chance with England. [in the youth teams]”Skinner added.
“There was a women’s mentoring scheme at the time, so there were people trying to help grow within women’s football, but the numbers were very small.
“I’ve always tried to help the English coaches. In England, I had a trainee with me who was Carly Davies, now the coach at Nottingham Woodland.
“When I went to Tottenham I approached [ex-Bristol City head coach] Lauren Smith to try to help her return to club football.
“I hired Vicky Jepson [as assistant manager] in Tottenham because he had just [left] Liverpool and we’ve been in the game for an hour.”
