BRADFORD City AFC have announced the appointment of Emily Senior as the club's new women's first-team manager.
The 29-year-old former centre-back arrives at the club having most recently taken the reins at Ossett United Women in the North East Regional Women's Football League, overseeing promotion to the Premier Division.
Upon signing, Senior said: "I am delighted to be joining Bradford City. I have had opportunities to go into clubs at tier 3 and 4 level, but I knew I wanted to step back into management.
"When this job came up, and after having the conversations with Qasim (Akhtar, chair) and Gareth (Davis, head of football operations), I knew this was the place for me.
"The values of the club align with mine personally, so that is always a good starting point - seeing the infrastructure and all the building blocks in place. I am excited to get going and be a part of the journey."
Chair, Akhtar, said: "We are delighted to appoint Emily as the new manager of Bradford City AFC Women. Emily joins us with a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the game, and it is so refreshing to see how keen she is to continue learning.
"From the interviews and conversations me and Gaz held with Emily, it was clear she was the right fit for us, and we are pleased she felt the same way."
Senior arrives at the club following the dismissal of Nick Buxton in September, who only took charge of three competitive games in his short tenure at the club having arrived in the summer.
Chairman Akhtar, said at the time: “There was no disagreement, but we didn’t feel Nick was the right person to take us forward.
“That had nothing to do with the result yesterday (5-0 defeat at Alnwick), there were other factors in there that contributed towards it, that’s just how it is.
“With Nick, I understand if some people don’t like the call and people might be wondering what’s gone on, but I wish him nothing but all the best.
“I’ve got nothing but respect for everything he’s implemented while he’s been here, but we just don’t see him as the person to take us forward.
“We want to go in a different direction, but I take the responsibility for bringing Nick in, but sometimes things don’t work out and I don’t think for any reason you need to continue to wait if things aren’t working out.”
Senior will have the chance to lay down an early marker this Sunday when City travel to take on Sunderland West End for the second time in the space of a week.
Prior to last Sunday’s fixture when Bradford claimed a memorable 6-2 victory, Sunderland were perched at the summit of the Nort East Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division, but the Bantams’ emphatic win knocked them off the top into 3rd.
It’s not often two sides face each other twice in the same week, particularly in a league double-header, but this weekend is different.
Sunderland will be out for revenge, but Bradford will be hoping to kickstart their new manager’s reign with a bang. A win would see them rise from 4th into 3rd by leapfrogging Sunday’s opponents.
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