Nick to leave City Women for new role in Big Apple

CITY Women’s manager Nick Cushing will leave the club at the start of February.

Cushing, who has been in charge of the women’s team since they reformed in 2014, is joining New York City, a member of City Football Group, to be their assistant manager.

The 35-year-old led the Blues to six trophies in six years but has decided now is the right time to take on a new challenge in the men’s game and will work with newly-appointed head coach Ronny Deila at New York City.

Cushing said: “Making the decision to leave MCWFC has been incredibly difficult given the fantastic players and staff that we have here and the incredible success that we have achieved together – it isn’t one that I have taken lightly.

“We’ve had an amazing six-and-a-half seasons and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with everybody – I will be extremely emotional to leave, but I’m very excited for my next role within the City Football Group.

“Linking up with New York City and Ronny (Deila) is a brilliant opportunity and I’m really looking forward to working in the MLS.”

Cushing’s last game in charge will be at home to Arsenal on February 2 in the Women’s Super League. After that, assistant manager Alan Mahon will take charge of the first team supported by Brian Eastick.

Gavin Makel, head of women’s football at City, said: “On behalf of everybody at the club, I would like to pass on my gratitude and thanks to Nick for his dedication to Manchester City Women over the past six years and to Manchester City as a whole beyond that time.

“MCWFC was a journey that we began together and what he has achieved as a manager during his time in charge is unrivalled in the women’s game.”

CITY would be prepared to let Jack Harrison go if they receive an offer of around £8m.

The Blues winger has been on loan at Championship side Leeds since the summer of 2018 and has become one of the stars of their surge towards promotion under Marcelo Bielsa.

The Yorkshire side are intent on keeping the 23-year-old winger who has never played a first-team game for City - if they win promotion to the Premier League. And they could bite the bullet and make an offer for the Boltonborn player, even if they do blow it. City signed him from sister club New York City two years ago, after he had been named MLS Rookie of the Year, but he was instantly loaned out to Middlesbrough. After appearing for the Blues on their US tour that summer, he was again sent out, this time to Leeds. City have developed a strategy of picking up bright young players from their fellow City Football Group teams and making a profit by selling them on.