Sorry Phil, coaching England’s women is a job for a woman
AS A member of the squad for the first official England women’s match against Scotland in 1972, I am dismayed that the FA is set to name Phil Neville (right) as the new manager of the England women’s team, despite the fact this would be his first management job at any level. Can you imagine the FA appointing a rookie manager for the England men’s team? It would appear to be another case of the FA giving jobs to the boys by appointing former professional players with no proven management background, though Neville does have coaching experience. The England women deserve better than this. Mo Marley, the current caretaker manager, is an experienced and well-respected coach and manager who captained England. She has 15 years of management experience at club and England under-19 level, having led the country to victory in the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship, and Everton Ladies to victory in the FA Women’s Premier League Cup and the FA Women’s Cup. She has made a great start as caretaker manager — we’ve had two wins out of three in the World Cup qualifying campaign, with nine goals without reply in the past two matches. Come on, FA, surely this should be a clear case for a job for the girl! WENDY OWEN, Little Neston, Cheshire. RYAN GIGGS is the new Wales manager — his first permanent job in management. If the players he picks decide to opt out of the same number of friendlies he did when he was a player, he’ll have a job to field a full team. JOHN LOWARCH, Oswestry, Shropshire.