Women New Management Speculation

['Ayes B]

With the Club announcing the re-purposing of Karleigh Osborne into a new role leaving the Women’s First Team Management slot vacant, it will be interested to see who is appointed as his replacement.

We know the Club like to appoint from within, so Sean Hillier who has worked alongside Karleigh for the past few seasons would be a good shout.

The Current Women’s B Team manager Yannawit Khantharat is also another internal possibility even though the B Teams performances this year, albeit in a really tough and competive league, which in fairness is probably the same standard as some of tier 6 leagues around the country, was disappointing.

Former Brentford Women’s B Team manager Tommy Ryan-Maynard appears to be currently working with Brentford FC Community Sports Trust and on his Linkin Profile he states his looking for a Football Coach – Head Women Soccer Coach role.

 

['Ayes B]

Oliver Yazdi is the current First Team Manager at WNL side Actonians guiding them to a 6th placed finish in this seasons league table.

The experience of managing a Women’s side at a higher level would stand us in good stead. He would be able to identify transfer targets and could bring players with him to help us progress and compete at the higher level next year.

 

['Ayes B]

Former Brentford manager William Boye, left the Bees to take over at Ashford Town, earning successive promotions taking them from the Greater London Women’s Football League side to becoming an established Women’s National League side after achieving promotion from the L&SERWFL premier in 2021/22.

 

[Gary Alen]

Club recruiting on LinkedIn… maybe suggesting that Sean Hillier isn’t in the running?

 

[Leonardo]

Not neccessarily. The club looked at external candidates as well before appointing Thomas Frank as men's coach

 

[Beecareful]

names mentioned are men.

no women in the running?

 

[Gary Alen]

I'd be amazed if there wasn't women in the running. Amazing how few women coaches there are in the game though (at the lower levels). I think most of the teams in the L&SE D1 we've played this year are/were coached/managed by men. I suspect with the growth of the game over the last 5-10 years in the UK, that will see more of the current crop of players retire and take up coaching, then have in previous generations.

I'd loved to see Mollie Holmes take up a coaching role, feel she has a good footballing brain.

 

[A Real Mysteron]

Could do worse than trying to nick whoever is coaching Bromley.
I felt they looked for more organised in the G-Tech game than the Bees did, and with more up top would probably have won that game.

 

[Theraceclub]

Could do worse than trying to nick whoever is coaching Bromley.
I felt they looked for more organised in the G-Tech game than the Bees did, and with more up top would probably have won that game.

Totally agree, another 10 mins in the 2nd half and we were in trouble. They also were fitter than us in both games, something we have to overcome. The teams above us will be more atheletic fitter and faster. Throughout the closed season our players must get fitter by running atleast 7km every 2 days and get better conditioned.

 

[Logie11]

I'd be amazed if there wasn't women in the running. Amazing how few women coaches there are in the game though (at the lower levels). I think most of the teams in the L&SE D1 we've played this year are/were coached/managed by men. I suspect with the growth of the game over the last 5-10 years in the UK, that will see more of the current crop of players retire and take up coaching, then have in previous generations.

I'd loved to see Mollie Holmes take up a coaching role, feel she has a good footballing brain.

????

 

[Banana]

One more coach gone.


View: https://x.com/BrentfordFCW/status/1936016186455552217

 

[Brentford_till_die]

One more coach gone.


View: https://x.com/BrentfordFCW/status/1936016186455552217

Brentford youth team of 04/05 clear out.

Peters (left some time ago), Osborne and Hillier.

 

[Gary Alen]

One more coach gone.


View: https://x.com/BrentfordFCW/status/1936016186455552217

That would suggest that Sean applied for the principal role, and wasn't successful. If he wanted to leave, I suspect this announcement would have been shortly after Kaleigh's departure. I was expecting Sean to be the new coach if i'm honest. Has always impressed me and been quite open talking to us on the terraces, and thought he'd be a good continuity candidate.

Be interesting to see who comes in now then!

 

['Ayes B]

Sad to Sean go as i rooting for him to step up and to get the managers role.

 

[Gary Alen]

Does mean that for the first game of the new season, will have a new coach, assistant and captain.

Hopefully the new coach will be announced soon, as will have quite a rebuild for the first game of the season. Haven't seen a retained list either, so be interesting who makes that call, when almost everyone who has coached them last season and see them play, will have gone.

 

[petsknee]

Sean landed a new job as Assistant Coach for Maidenhead United Women:

Sean Hillier Named As MUWFC Assistant Manager

New man joins Kitson's coaching team.

www.maidenheadunitedfc.org

 

[petsknee]

And another departure, Women's B Team head coach Yannawit Khantharat...

Brentford Women B head coach Yannawit Khantharat departs | Brentford FC

Brentford Women B head coach Yannawit Khantharat has departed the club ahead of the 2025/26 season.

www.brentfordfc.com

 

[Theraceclub]

Pre season should be well underway with players and coaching staff all selected.

 

[jlove]

And another departure, Women's B Team head coach Yannawit Khantharat...

Brentford Women B head coach Yannawit Khantharat departs | Brentford FC

Brentford Women B head coach Yannawit Khantharat has departed the club ahead of the 2025/26 season.

www.brentfordfc.com

Perhaps is actually means … has departed the club ahead of the 2025/26 season’s announcements?

 

[Theraceclub]

Lets hope they pull it round quickly

 

[Gary Alen]

I get the feeling the messages have been drip-fed the last few weeks to fill in the hiatus on social media. I expect many of the decisions were taken weeks ago.
I gather the players are back training this week. So wouldn’t be surprised if some appointments were announced this week.

 

[Gary Alen]

Sean landed a new job as Assistant Coach for Maidenhead United Women:

Sean Hillier Named As MUWFC Assistant Manager

New man joins Kitson's coaching team.

www.maidenheadunitedfc.org

Pleased Sean has got another role, I’m not surprised it’s at Maidenhead, as the two clubs have worked closely in the past.
Sean is one of the good guys and wish him nothing but success. Notice he is assistant to Dave Kitson.

View: https://x.com/darlington10/status/1940083327387804104?s=46&t=ROWK5W1-J3fmdepKoQfgUQ

 

[Banana]

Obviously we're nailed on for relegation next season with all these departures!

Who is making the appointment of the new coach btw?

 

[Gary Alen]

Pleased Sean has got another role, I’m not surprised it’s at Maidenhead, as the two clubs have worked closely in the past.
Sean is one of the good guys and wish him nothing but success. Notice he is assistant to Dave Kitson.

View: https://x.com/darlington10/status/1940083327387804104?s=46&t=ROWK5W1-J3fmdepKoQfgUQ

Turns out the ex-Maidenhead boss has moved to Reading FC. With the connections between Bees, Maidenhead & Reading, I wouldn't be surprised if a few Bee/Ex-Bees end up at either Maidenhead with Sean & Dave Kitson, or Reading with Ed Jackson-Norris

View: https://x.com/ReadingFCWomen/status/1941172753131778287

 

['Ayes B]

View: https://x.com/FansOfBEESwomen/status/1944430857449517547?t=LjbflZkMy8v5nU5WL5wHDA&s=19


It is rather weird that there has not been an announcement on who will replace Karleigh and Sean.

Fans moaned about the time it took to announce Kieth Andrews and this must be twice as long.

The players are back in training and the club have held at least two trials. We have yet to be told who is taking the training sessions or is looking after the player recruitment.

I did ask the club if they were going to issue a retained and a released list. Apparently some players are yet to commit (in my view, they are retained until they leave), and i suppose recruitment from the trials could push a few players out of the door.

I would have thought we should have been advised of our preseason schedule by now... Apparently its usually arranged in January. We will probably be told the day before the games.

 

[Gee Bee]

View: https://x.com/FansOfBEESwomen/status/1944430857449517547?t=LjbflZkMy8v5nU5WL5wHDA&s=19


It is rather weird that there has not been an announcement on who will replace Karleigh and Sean.

Fans moaned about the time it took to announce Kieth Andrews and this must be twice as long.

The players are back in training and the club have held at least two trials. We have yet to be told who is taking the training sessions or is looking after the player recruitment.

I did ask the club if they were going to issue a retained and a released list. Apparently some players are yet to commit (in my view, they are retained until they leave), and i suppose recruitment from the trials could push a few players out of the door.

I would have thought we should have been advised of our preseason schedule by now... Apparently its usually arranged in January. We will probably be told the day before the games.

Aren’t they all amateur and so can come and go as they please?

 

[HaylingBee74]

View: https://x.com/FansOfBEESwomen/status/1944430857449517547?t=LjbflZkMy8v5nU5WL5wHDA&s=19


It is rather weird that there has not been an announcement on who will replace Karleigh and Sean.

Fans moaned about the time it took to announce Kieth Andrews and this must be twice as long.

The players are back in training and the club have held at least two trials. We have yet to be told who is taking the training sessions or is looking after the player recruitment.

I did ask the club if they were going to issue a retained and a released list. Apparently some players are yet to commit (in my view, they are retained until they leave), and i suppose recruitment from the trials could push a few players out of the door.

I would have thought we should have been advised of our preseason schedule by now... Apparently its usually arranged in January. We will probably be told the day before the games.

Even though I havent been to see a Brentford FCW game. I am worried about the complete lack of any news for the Women have they been reassured at all?
At the climax to last season I chose to listen to the Women’s commentary when they won promotion rather than the Men vs Man U. So I do fear about this complete lack of information

 

['Ayes B]

Aren’t they all amateur and so can come and go as they please?

Players need to be registered to clubs in order to play.

We can have dual signings where players are loaned to other clubs or to us, but in these instances, there are parent clubs who have first pick.

It might be just a curtesy but players do ask for permission to 'go on loan', they cant just play for another team.

 

[JANORAK]

There’s still 2 ladies on the books.They were in the new kit photos….

 

[Theraceclub]

What a shambles

 

[Gary Alen]

The longer the radio silence continues, the more I think the club were caught on the hop by the departure of Karleigh.
I was convinced that Sean would have been the candidate to continue the long term vision, but with his departure (especially for “only” an assistant role elsewhere), it begs the question of what really is happening?

I had a joke the other day that maybe we were waiting for the end of the women’s euros, as we are after somone involved… I thought it was preposterous…. But the longer without an announcement… who knows!?!?

Have seen quite a few clubs have already had their first friendlies and are well underway with the plans for the season. As we know the players are back in training, whose holding the sessions, whose making the plans for the season? If it’s like last year, we could get the league fixtures soon, would like to think we have our house in order before then.

 

[Theraceclub]

I absolutely agree with you Gary, we should of played atleast 2 pre season matches against stiff opposition. My fear is we comeback un fit and at odds with more serious squads and get tonked

 

['Ayes B]

If players have left...they should be thanked for their service.

If anybody has been signed...they should be welcomed and celebrated with open arms. Fans shouldnt have to wait to be told like we were last year when Ashley and Lucy were signed.

If players havent been released, then they should appear on a retained list. If they are let go or find other clubs at a later date its hew news, another story.

 

[difford]

we could get the league fixtures soon, would like to think we have our house in order before then.

League fixtures for up to the end of September are due on or before 20th July.
There is definately a midweek home game with Sporting London Benfica to be played before 31st October.

 

[difford]

The pairings for the midweek games are
Aylesford v Ebbsfleet United
Newhaven v Saltdean United
Sutton United v Millwall Lionesses (27/8/25 7:45)
Barking v Dartford
Brentford v Sport London E Benfica
Dorking Wanderers v Ashford Town

All teams paired together shall arrange to play midweek, on a Wednesday or Thursday evening
1st match by 31st October 2025
2nd match by 1st May 2026
The host of the first match shall be the first named in the pair, unless mutually agreed to reverse.

 

[A Real Mysteron]

I’m a keen supporter of the women’s team, but I think some rational thinking is in order.

There is a “hardcore” of 80-100 people who go to Bedfont, so I can understand if the club aren’t falling over themselves to publicise what is or isn’t going on.

Realistically, the high attendances at the G-Tech games are due to people wanting to come to the ground that otherwise either can’t get, or can’t afford tickets.

 

['Ayes B]

Realistically, the high attendances at the G-Tech games are due to people wanting to come to the ground that otherwise either can’t get, or can’t afford tickets.

When the club actual bother to promote the games at Bedfont, the attendances are a lot higher.

The showcase games against SLeB and Richmond Park both attracted four figure gates.

 

[Gary Alen]

The pairings for the midweek games are
Aylesford v Ebbsfleet United
Newhaven v Saltdean United
Sutton United v Millwall Lionesses (27/8/25 7:45)
Barking v Dartford
Brentford v Sport London E Benfica
Dorking Wanderers v Ashford Town

All teams paired together shall arrange to play midweek, on a Wednesday or Thursday evening
1st match by 31st October 2025
2nd match by 1st May 2026
The host of the first match shall be the first named in the pair, unless mutually agreed to reverse.

I was hoping we’d get Ashford as our mid-week pairing. Oh well, Wednesday night in Ruislip it is then.

 

['Ayes B]

I was hoping we’d get Ashford as our mid-week pairing. Oh well, Wednesday night in Ruislip it is then.

Northolt... Ruislip Road

 

[Gary Alen]

Northolt... Ruislip Road

Oh yes… of course. ??‍

 

[difford]

League handbook is none the wiser

 

[PhilE]

I’m a keen supporter of the women’s team, but I think some rational thinking is in order.

There is a “hardcore” of 80-100 people who go to Bedfont, so I can understand if the club aren’t falling over themselves to publicise what is or isn’t going on.

Realistically, the high attendances at the G-Tech games are due to people wanting to come to the ground that otherwise either can’t get, or can’t afford tickets.

Promotion to Tier 5 should be giving the club a chance to reset and push on, hopefully with an upper mid-table finish. Part of this should be promotion and trying to encourage more fans to attend games - especially with the womens euros helping to shine a spotlight on the game. However there is more of a feeling that the club is pulling back slightly and that is rather a shame. With the smaller divisions in the womens game the first few matches set a real trend and realistically we could find our season over by mid-September.

Personally I attended about 8-10 matches last season. This season I wont be juggling work and study so am hoping improve on that but it would be nice to feel we are being valued.

Having said that I note that the FA have not even updated their website with the new divisions so its not just the club that are dragging their feet.

 

[difford]

Having said that I note that the FA have not even updated their website with the new divisions so its not just the club that are dragging their feet.

To be fair, that is for the league administrator to do rather than the FA, even though the FA host it on the Full Time platform. To further be fair to the league, they cant do it until all the clubs in the lague affiliate, so it could be, and is likely to be, one club holding it all up.

 

[JANORAK]

Excuse my ignorance, but what’s this ‘parings’ business?

 

['Ayes B]

Excuse my ignorance, but what’s this ‘parings’ business?

Each club must play two midweek matches, one at home and one away.

As the players all have day jobs or attend Uni, these midweek matches are always local affairs.

Teams in the league are therefore paired with a neighbouring club. Very often this isnt the closest club and there will always be at least one club out on a geographical whim.

We are the nearest team to Sport London E Benfica and have therefore been 'paired' with them as opposed to Ashford Town who are nearest to us.

 

[Gary Alen]

An update from the Club

View: https://x.com/BrentfordFCW/status/1946197705069388035


Sort of says a lot, and nothing at the same time.
No actual announcements, other then the arrival of Women’s consultant Lois Fidler. However, it sounds like there will be some major changes in the First XI. Sets the suggestion that some regulars maybe relegated into the B-Team, and other new players brought in. I may have misunderstood that, but that's what it sounds like to me. Hopefully a new coaching team announced soon.

 

[Theraceclub]

Now I understand why KO and Sean moved on, after listening to her for 5 mins I now understand why Southampton ladies went no where and for all her chatter the give away is when she scratched her left cheek, a sure sign of a fibber. God help our Bees

 

[Banana]

She sounds a serious woman. Maybe been brought in to analysis what it would take to move up a level or two.

 

[Theraceclub]

Maybe but she left Southampton in tatters and last seasons Brentford squad would have beaten them comfortably, looks to me like a gravy train rider who likes putting bills into clubs.

 

[Homer]

Maybe but she left Southampton in tatters and last seasons Brentford squad would have beaten them comfortably, looks to me like a gravy train rider who likes putting bills into clubs.

These are different teams, right? We played the independent Southampton Women's FC a couple years back, she was involved with Southampton FC Women - the one affiliated with the recently-relegated men's team. They've had a perfectly fine revival.