Promotion-winning boss sacked 'with future in mind'

Norwich City's head of women's football says the sacking of Andy Cook in May came "with what's next in mind".

A women's football club who sacked their head coach days after securing promotion said the change was made "with what's next in mind". Norwich City parted ways with Andy Cook and assistant coach Ethan Scott in May following their promotion to the FAWNL Northern Premier - the third tier of the women's football pyramid. Perry Northeast, Brighton & Hove Albion's girls' academy manager, took over in the role on 1 July.

Flo Allen, Norwich's head of women's football, said Cook and Scott's dismissal was "very tricky", but that Northeast felt like a "complete natural fit" to take over. "We're super excited to have Perry in the building," she told BBC Radio Norfolk. "Of course there were tricky conversations with excellent people in Andy and Ethan.

I'd like to pay some respect to them for the fantastic work they put in. "We made the changes with what's next in mind, and what we need to not only sustain at tier three but compete. "We're a really ambitious club and we want to push forward on the football and coaching side.

"Perry completely aligns to everything as a club we want to be identified as." Northeast's side will begin the new season at home to Huddersfield Town on 16 August.