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Women's Football New United assistant Kirk calls on club to get results ‘as quickly as possible’

MANCHESTER UNITED’S newly appointed assistant manager Willie Kirk said yesterday that the club must go from individuals to teammates instantly if they are to be successful this season.

Kirk became Casey Stoney’s No 2 as the club continue preparation for their debut season in the Women’s Championship.

As manager of Bristol City, he led the club to promotion from the Women’s Super League two in 2016 but stepped down from his role as manager in May to “seek a new challenge.”

That challenge will include quickly turning this side from a bunch of strangers to a well-oiled machine.

“Without a doubt it’s going to be a big challenge,” he said. “Casey has done a lot of work already on pulling that together and come August 18/19 when the season opens, we will be in a good place.

“We will have a squad that we think will be competitive, but we are pretty much, including staff, bringing in 26 individuals for the first time together to get that chemistry right as soon as possible and get results as quickly as possible.

“It’s exciting but also a little bit of nervousness and trepidation in terms of how quickly can we get that mix right.”

Like their male counterparts, United will have to deal with teams going the extra mile to get the better of this side, something Kirk is all too aware of and he believes the club can thrive in those circumstances.

“That’s the pressure that the staff and players will have to live with and actually enjoy. It’s not something we should be scared of.

“It’s a nice pressure to have, being at such a big club, and everybody wants to take United as a scalp. 

“But every day we have to walk through that door and be ready for that challenge.” 

The 40-year-old brings a wealth of experience to Stoney’s backroom team, as well as a history of bringing through exciting young players. He admitted that he could not pass up the chance to be a part of this exciting project.

“To have the chance to work with Casey Stoney and to be part of a team that is being set up from scratch, to me, is an opportunity not to be missed. 

“The fact that you can be at the beginning of a project, at the start of something that will be very special and be part of that journey from the start was without a doubt one of the biggest draws to the job.

“Manchester United is renowned around the globe for developing young talent and that will continue in the women’s team.”

On the ambitions of the club, Kirk made it crystal clear that promotion to the Women’s Super League is the aim this year.

“We want to be a very competitive team in the women’s game, obviously this year.

“Myself and Casey have, quite rightly, said that promotion is our aim. We want to get up as quickly as possible. We want to be in the Super League as quickly as possible and start competing with the best teams.

“How quickly that can happen? Of course it depends on how good a job we do, but we certainly want to be competing at the highest level in the English game.”

Stoney was delighted with the hiring, saying: “Willie is a fantastic appointment and has a proven track record of developing young players. 

“I think, together, we have the opportunity to build something very special at Manchester United. I look forward to working with him as we start on this exciting journey.”

The club are yet to announce any signings but will be playing rivals Liverpool in a home pre-season friendly on July 15 at Leigh Sports Village Stadium.

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