IAN HERBERT: Emma Hayes can bring new ideas to a top flight stuck in a cycle of old firefighters
Daily Mail Given the mens team she found herself linked with a few years ago was also a basket case, Emma Hayes would probably take a dim view of the idea that Chelsea should have put her, rather than Frank Lampard, in charge of their mens team these past six weeks.
That previous link, you might recall, was with Wimbledon, who were third bottom of League One and sinking like a stone in February 2021, when it was reported that they had condescended to consider her for their shortlist to replace manager Glyn Hodges, whod just been shown the door.
Hayes was leading Chelsea to a WSL title and a Champions League final at the time, managing Fran Kirby, Pernille Harder, Magda Eriksson, Millie Bright, Maren Mjelde, to name just a few of the world-class players she had assembled.
With the greatest respect to Alex Woodyard, Shane McLoughlin and Joe Pigott, this alternative option didnt quite cut it.
Hayes called out the assumption that a failing third tier mens team represented career advancement for what it was. An insult.
