Why Liverpool then? Why was this the right move for you to get back into football?
Well, because of that, because it’s more than a club. I think when Liverpool come calling, it’s really hard to resist. I’ve been a massive admirer of what they’ve done in the men’s game but also the women’s game as well – I think there’s a lot of history there. Going back to what I said previously, that connection with supporters, I think, is unparalleled and there’s probably only a few other clubs around the world that have that same kind of connection. That was one real big reason – the fact that it’s Liverpool.
The other one for me would be Andy [O’Boyle, managing director] in terms of the move he made for me and the way he made me feel wanted, in the sense of [being] interested to do something a little bit different and really clear on how I want to do things. We had some really good conversations and I think his experience is quite rare in the women’s game. He’s had a lot of varied experiences, he’s straight-talking, he’s very honest, he’s very clear and there’s good collaboration with everyone here at Fenway Sports Group. The people there are fantastic and made everything really, really smooth in that sense.
The final bit would probably be that opportunity to move this thing forward. I think that there’s some really good early gains that can be made. Of course it’s going to take a little bit of time, there’s going to be some bumps in the road along the way, of course there are, but our ambition is high and we know that it takes time to do that in any league but particularly this one. That’s the exciting part. It was that real growth opportunity, I think, to come in and help what we already have.
What about these fantastic facilities here at the AXA Melwood Training Centre – was that also a big factor that attracted you here?
Yeah. I was really lucky that we came here last pre-season for a friendly and got to really see it. And again, I mentioned previously that I’d been to Melwood but it was many, many years ago when the men’s first team were here. What a facility this is to have for us to be the best version of ourselves. Everyone who works here is for the women’s team and I think that’s really, really rare in the women’s game because everybody’s trying to improve, everyone’s trying to get better. What we have here is a fantastic foundation for us to operate in and try to earn those gains that we’ll look to do.
You did a fantastic job during your time with Manchester City and you certainly know Gemma Bonner well from your time there. She has signed a new contract and it must be great to meet up with Gemma again…
A great character, Gem. I think she’s been an incredible servant for Liverpool and securing her was really, really important for the club to do and great for me. I’m sure she’s been pestered left, right and centre from the girls asking about myself! It feels a long time ago that we worked together. She’s great and I think she gets what we’re trying to do. I think that helps us when you have people in the environment already that understand what we want to try to achieve. I think that’s really, really great to have.
The recruitment drive has started already with four new signings in place, plus numerous players committing themselves to the club. That’s so important, isn’t it?
Absolutely. I think the re-signings are really interesting for me because it shows that players want to be here. The sheer number of those players who have re-signed is really, really positive for me. Certainly in a period where there was uncertainty as to who the next coach was going to be, I think it’s amazing that players want to commit their futures, their immediate futures, to the club. But the recruitment side of the game is so, so important at any club. Of course we are ambitious, we give really good opportunities. We lost a couple of players more recently but those players were given a really good platform here to go and showcase their talents and they’ve been picked up elsewhere. That’s normal, that happens at every club. So, [it’s] exciting.
I know we lost a couple of big players in the team and, in terms of recruitment, I would imagine you might want to get a few more in before the start of the WSL season…
Yeah, we have some time. Of course there’s lots of competition out there for players and it’s a lot busier now these transfer windows than probably when I started four, five seasons ago, particularly the January window. You look at that window now and there’s a lot of activity going on, a lot of big money being spent. Of course we want to try to improve and get better, but I think it’s recognising what we do have in here already – which is really important. Because if you don’t know that then how do you know what you need? We’ll certainly be sensible in the way we operate and certainly with wanting to bring players to the club. But, of course, I think it’s a big selling point, a club like Liverpool being interested in a player. Again, trying to create that identity that we strive to be and what we want to stand for as a club, I think it’s also a really big selling point for any players that want to come.
