Aston Villa manager Carla Ward is to end a three-year spell with the club by stepping down from her post at the end of the season.
In her first season in charge, she led the team to a ninth-place finish in the Barclays WSL before recording a best-ever fifth-place finish last term.
Villa currently sit in seventh place in the WSL, with two games remaining.
Carla Ward told avfc.co.uk: “To step down from my post here at Aston Villa has been the hardest decision of my managerial career, but I know it is the right one for my family and I.
“Managing a great club like Aston Villa has been a full-throttle job and I have always given the role 100 per cent dedication. However, I now believe it is the right time for me to prioritise the other important things – such as my daughter and the rest of my family life.”
President of Football Operations, Monchi said: “Carla came to us a few weeks ago and spoke of her plan to step down. We have had extensive dialogue with her to see if there was anything we could do to persuade her to stay, but she is adamant that she wants to take a break from the game.
“Therefore, on behalf of everybody at Aston Villa, I want to place on record our grateful thanks to Carla for everything she has achieved with us and wish her well for the future.”
Director of Football Operations Damian Vidagany, said: “In my opinion, Carla is one of the best managers in women’s football and we are sad to see here go. I would like to wish her all the best for the future.”
