Man City boss Taylor sacked five days before cup final

Manchester City have sacked head coach Gareth Taylor just five days before the Women's League Cup final.

The 52-year-old took charge of City in May 2020 and led them to two major honours.

City missed out on last season's Women's Super League title on goal difference and are currently fourth, 12 points adrift of defending champions Chelsea.

Taylor won his final game in charge on Sunday, as City beat Aston Villa 2-0 to reach the Women's FA Cup semi-finals.

"Manchester City prides itself on competing at the top of the WSL and on its outstanding record of qualifying for European competition," said managing director Charlotte O'Neill.

"Unfortunately, results this season have so far not reached this high standard."

City have lost four of their 16 league games and are one point outside the qualification places for the Women's Champions League, with Arsenal having a game in hand.

Former boss Nick Cushing has returned on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. City face Chelsea in the League Cup final on Saturday (12:15 GMT kick-off).

Taylor succeeded Cushing in 2020 and City lifted the FA Cup later that year, before winning the League Cup in 2022.

In four full seasons in charge under Taylor they did not finish outside the top four, but a late fightback by Arsenal in the penultimate game of last season cost City their first WSL title since 2016.

O'Neill added: "With six games of the WSL campaign remaining, we believe that a change of management will breathe fresh life into our bid to ensure qualification for the 2025-26 Women's Champions League.

"We would like to place on record our thanks to Gareth for all of his efforts during his many years at City.

"Our FA Cup and League Cup triumphs will remain special moments in the history of this football club. We wish him all the best for the future."

Cushing previously helped City win the WSL and the FA Cup, plus the League Cup twice, before leaving in January 2020 to join New York City.

He was initially assistant coach and then spent two years as head coach before being sacked by the MLS side in November.