Hearts appoint Andy Kirk manager of women's team and girls' academy

Northern Irishman given new role at Riccarton

Andy Kirk will manage Hearts Women this season.

Hearts have appointed Andy Kirk manager of their women’s team and their girls’ youth academy in a restructuring move at Riccarton.

The Evening News revealed earlier this month that Kirk had been offered the role, and that Liam Fox would leave his job as reserve coach.

Kirk, 41, has now accepted the position and will take charge of his new team in the Scottish Women’s Premier League after they gained promotion last season.

The Northern Irishman, who holds a UEFA Pro Licence, has coached Hearts men’s under-15s, under-17s, under-20s, reserves and first team since joining the Riccarton coaching staff in 2016.

“It’s a new challenge for me and along with managing the Girls' Academy, which will be a new experience, it’s something I’m really looking forward to,” Kirk told the club website.

“The club has invested a lot of time and money into improving the infrastructure of the women’s game and it’s an exciting time to be involved.

“Our season starts on October 18th and there is a lot of hard work to be done in preparation, so I’m eager to get the team on the training pitch and start putting our plans in place for what will be a tough, but hopefully enjoyable, campaign.”

A message from the Editor: Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers – and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. Subscribe to the Edinburgh Evening News online and enjoy unlimited access to trusted, fact-checked news and sport from Edinburgh and the Lothians. Visit https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.