Emma Hayes: AFC Wimbledon job not step up from Chelsea Women

FILE PHOTO: Women's FA Cup Semi Final - Manchester City v Chelsea
Action Images via Reuters
Alex Young @alexwsyoung3 February 2021

Chelsea Women boss Emma Hayes says AFC Wimbledon cannot afford her amid links to the managerial vacancy.

The Dons are looking for a new manager after parting ways with Glyn Hodges over the weekend following a 2-0 defeat to rivals MK Dons.

Standard Sport understands that brothers Danny and Nicky Cowley have emerged as strong contenders for the role, while Hayes has also been linked.

The 44-year-old has been in charge at current Women's Super League champions and leaders Chelsea since 2012 and the trophies she has guided them to includes three WSL titles and two FA Cups.

When asked about the Wimbledon link, Hayes said: "I'm the manager of Chelsea, I manage and represent elite, world-class players, and this, for me, is an amazing job that I have spent nine years cultivating all my energy into.

"I'm not looking for another job, I'm blessed with working with wonderful humans day in, day out."

Chelsea Women v Manchester United Women - Barclays FA Women's Super League
The FA via Getty Images

Hayes was subsequently asked if Wimbledon could afford her, and she said: "Absolutely not."

It was put to Hayes that there had been talk of a step up to the men's game, to which she replied that "women's football is not a step down from anything" and that any suggestion it is is an "insult".  

Hayes added: "Fran Kirby, Pernille Harder, Beth England, Magda Eriksson, Millie Bright, Maren Mjelde - do you want me to keep going? These are world-class players.

“Women's football is something to celebrate, and the quality and the achievement of all the females I represent … it's an insult to them that we talk about women's football being a step down, with the dedication and the commitment and the quality they have.

"I think that's what I'm disappointed with, not being linked to a football job, as a football coach, regardless of gender.

"But I'm happy at Chelsea, I love my job here, I've always been clear about that and nothing has changed."

Hayes also said she thinks "the football world needs to wake up and recognise that, while the game is played by a different gender, it is exactly the same sport, and the qualities involved with having to manage that is exactly the same than it would be for a men's team. We are talking about human beings."

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