New Boss For Derby County Ladies

Ladies appoint new First Team Manager.

After a deliberate and lengthy recruitment process, Derby County Ladies FC have appointed a new First Team Manager.

31-year-old Jenny Sugarman is to take over from the outgoing John Bennett this summer and in doing so the club have recruited their first female to the role in 18 years.

“Following the announcement in early February that John Bennett would step down at the end of the season due to family commitments, the club made a conscientious decision to utilise the time afforded by his intent to complete the season, in order to make the right appointment," said Derby County Ladies Chief Executive, Duncan Gibb.

"As a result twenty four applications were received, which included coaches currently involved with Champions League semi-finalists, Atletico Madrid and Dutch giants Ajax. This number was subsequently whittled down to four, who were then asked to deliver training sessions to the club’s senior group prior to formal interviews taking place and Jenny being offered the role.”

Although quite young compared to most managers involved in the game, Sugarman already has a wealth of experience within the women’s format.

"In terms of playing, whilst my career saw me appear for Shrewsbury Town, Coventry City and Leicester City - my claim to fame was to appear in the Under 17's School Girls World Cup finals at the age of just 12,” said a delighted Sugarman.

"Unfortunately injury curtailed my playing career when I was in my 20s, however given my love and passion for the game; I was always going to move into coaching and then management on the back of that.”

Sugarman’s management CV is already hugely impressive and features coaching work with Shrewsbury, Wolves, Leicester and the New York Red Bulls prior to her being appointed manager of Birmingham University Women’s FC in 2011. During her time at Birmingham she oversaw their most impressive period of success in which they finished runners-up in the National University League.

In terms of her move to Derby, Sugarman is delighted to be given the chance to manage in the Women’s Premier League, during what is the most exciting period of the Rams’ history.

"Ask anyone within the Women’s game and they will tell you that the development and progress that has taken place at Derby this season are incredible,” she said.

“The club have moved from being one that only stayed up on the last day of last season to an established Premier League side who only weeks ago turned over title chasing Nottingham Forest on their own patch.

“In addition to that big things have been happening off the pitch on the back of the appointment of Duncan Gibb as Chief Executive and John Griffiths as Director Of Football. It came as little surprise to learn that over twenty prospective managers wanted to work with them, given what has happened at the club since they came on board. I'm just pleased that they chose me.”

Gibb, who feels that Sugarman is a good fit with the club’s ambitions, was quick to praise the work of the outgoing manager.

He said: “JB took up the role three years ago with a clear mandate to leave the club in a better position that when he came on board.

“In my view he has delivered on that promise and can feel hugely proud of his achievements. In allowing us the time to make the right appointment to follow him, we have been able secure Jenny’s services and we are hopeful that she can continue the great work done by John.

“In Jenny we see a bright young manager who has ambitions to manage at Women’s Super League level and we very much hope that she will achieve that with us."

In terms of Sugarman being the club’s first female first team manager since 1997, Gibb had no issue in making the decision.

He said: “Gender was never part of the equation for John Griffiths and I; it was simply about ability and having ambitions that matched our own. England’s Assistant Manager is female, as are the managers of Super League clubs, Arsenal and Everton. For us Jenny was simply the best candidate, so she's been given the job, it’s as simple as that.”