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The Sheffield United head coach, Ash Thompson, has left his role at the Womenâ€s Super League 2 side, with the club saying they have “mutually agreed to part waysâ€.

The news comes 19 days after the Guardian revealed that Thompson had been suspended from his duties. The teamâ€s assistant head coach, Luke Turner, has been in charge on an interim basis in the meantime and they have picked up one point from their opening four league matches of the WSL 2 campaign and are bottom of the table.

There was never any formal announcement of Thompsonâ€s suspension, although earlier in September, a club spokesperson told the Guardian: “Sheffield United Women confirms that Luke Turner takes charge of the senior womenâ€s team on an interim basis, with Ash Thompson currently unavailable.†Thompson was also contacted for a response.

On Tuesday, a short statement from the club said: “Sheffield United can confirm that the club and womenâ€s manager Ash Thompson have mutually agreed to part ways. Following a review, both parties agreed that this was the right time for a change of leadership.

“The club would like to thank Ash for his efforts throughout his time at the club. Luke Turner will take charge in the interim.â€

Sheffield United were poised for relegation last season after a disappointing campaign under Thompson, finishing bottom of the division, but they received a reprieve from being demoted after Blackburn Rovers withdrew from the league over financial concerns. That saw Sheffield United reinstated to the second tier to ensure the league had 12 participating clubs this season.

Formerly a coach at Leeds, Thompson had been in charge of Sheffield United since the summer of 2024. That came after three years working within the clubâ€s youth academy, including a spell as their under-21s manager.

Turner, who has been working for the club since 2020, has had three previous spells as interim manager between 2022 and 2024.

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The transformative effects that Englandâ€s hosting of the 2022 Womenâ€s European Championship had on its domestic game are well known in Australia. The country got its version of this phenomenon when it co-hosted the 2023 Womenâ€s World Cup and its domestic competition, the A-League Women, basked in the reflected haloâ€s light as it grew to 12 sides, secured a new collective bargaining agreement increasing spending limits and became the first Australian football code to introduce a full home-and-away womenâ€s season. There were record crowds and TV ratings.

Come the start of 2025-26, however, on the eve of Australia preparing to host its own continental showpiece, the 2026 Womenâ€s Asian Cup, and those heights feel increasingly bygone. Most of the news dominating the buildup for the new year has been less than ideal, the coming campaign seeing the league – a closed competition without promotion and relegation – contract in size for the first time since Central Coast went on hiatus before 2010-11. It will do so after Western Unitedâ€s teams were placed into a period of “conditional hibernation†amid their embattled attempts to stave off collapse.

Gripped in financial turmoil, United, based in Melbourneâ€s west, had their parent companies placed into liquidation in August after a petition from the Australian Tax Office. That came weeks after the unexpected stripping of their A-League licence by the first instance board of Football Australia – which still maintains regulatory oversight of the top flight under the terms of its independence. A protracted series of appeals, which remain ongoing, commenced but with the season scheduled to kick off on Halloween, the hibernation decision came in early September to allow some certainty and for fixtures to be released.

To some, stating a club stripped of its licence and the subject of a winding-up order from tax authorities to be in “hibernation†might carry the same energy as John Cleese stating that a parrot is simply pining for the fjords. But United, who will nominally continue to run their boys and girls academies over the coming year, insist that they will return “revitalisedâ€.

Revitalisation notwithstanding, though, United wonâ€t be part of the A-League Women for the coming season; shrinking it to 11 sides and reducing its weekly games from six to five. While their menâ€s and womenâ€s players were able to secure releases from their contracts, the imminent start of the campaign means that many of Unitedâ€s players will be unable to find new homes before the season begins. And despite proposals from the players†union the PFA for temporary roster spots and salary-cap exemptions, it has already been signalled that no allowances will be made for clubs to sign former United talent. Players, thus, face losing a year of their professional careers, with most facing no competitive minutes until the start of semi-professional, state-based NPL competitions in 2026.

“The dragged-out process and poor timing have left me in such a vulnerable position – suddenly without the opportunity to play A-League and facing the uncertainty of what comes next,†Maja Markovski, now a free-agent striker, says. “On top of that, Iâ€m rehabbing a knee injury on my own, without the support and structure that a professional environment brings. Itâ€s been isolating and incredibly difficult, trying to stay strong mentally while feeling like the rug has been pulled from under me.â€

The troubles at United, who last season were led by Kat Smith, also ensure that only one of the leagueâ€s 11 sides will be coached by a woman heading into the season. And with that coach, Bev Priestman, at the helm of the New Zealand-based side Wellington Phoenix, it means that just over two years on from a home World Cup in which development for female coaches was a key legacy goal for Football Australia, there will be no female coaches leading an Australian A-League Womenâ€s side.

Adding to the melancholy air, this is all taking place against a sweeping program of austerity across the league and its clubs – a program that is reportedly behind the decision to not bring in Auckland as an expansion franchise until the 2027-28 season. A much celebrated silver lining of these cuts is improved opportunities for young players to play, but this invariably is paired with a squeezing out of established talent who, while maybe not destined for overseas, guide youngsters and raise the standard of the on-field product.

With a home Asian Cup looming, a crossroads is being approached. The PFA is calling for the event to become a launching pad for a pathway towards the implementation of full-time professionalism and the launch of a deliberate strategy to convert supporters of the Matildas into fans of A-League Womenâ€s clubs, lest Australia get left behind. Years of strategic blunders, however, have left the leagues emphasising consolidation and financial repair.

The Asian Cup is the last major tournament, the last sugar hit, that can be realistically banked for a while. It increasingly feels like a Rubicon moment.

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Another vision will be realized for promoter David McLane when WOW- Women Of Wrestling takes over the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas. The WOW Superheroes will perform under the iconic canopy for shows October 14 and 15 and October 21 and 22.  McLane has always championed all-female presentations going all the way back almost 40 years with the trailblazing Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW).Â

In many ways, WOW picked up where the beloved brand left off and evolved to the syndicated series we see today. With the show recently starting its fourth season, McLane isnâ€t one to rest on past successes. He has a big goal in mind to take WOW to the next level.

“Weâ€ve got to go live. Weâ€ve got to get WOW live,†he said. “Any of you fans, weâ€ve got to rally for WOW Live. We have to go live versus taped programming and syndication only.â€

For the go-getter businessman, eventually transitioning to a live format would maximize the audience and elicit engagement. He continued, “everything from social media to merchandise to marketing the Superheroes has been hampered in the fact itâ€s not live. Weâ€ve got to go live. I was at another wrestling event, and when I flew in, I even went to a WNBA game in Vegas. Iâ€m watching the fans interact with their phones in realtime. Itâ€s just a great experience. Itâ€s an engagement and family environment through your phone with technology. And to take part in that, weâ€ve got to get live.â€

Conversations have been ongoing with one network that has interest in testing a live format, but McLane doesnâ€t just want any network. He recalled meeting with executive Jeanie Buss when he was doing World Roller Hockey League.

McLane added, “I remember when I was launching that with ESPN and their then president Steve Bornstein, and they said, ‘letâ€s test it by putting on one or two roller hockey events on.†I came back and said we canâ€t do it unless we go all in because with one test youâ€re not going to learn anything. It canâ€t be one event. You have to see how it goes over time and be committed to it. So, weâ€re looking for that right partner right now.â€

He is also a realist when it comes to taking WOW on the road. McLaineâ€s thought process is to go live first and then think about touring. “If we did it today, weâ€d be dead meat financially,†he explained. “The cost to put it up and take it city to city would be very difficult. Weâ€d be dead meat, but that is an ultimate goal to take it out and be in different cities. The UFC has even struggled with that. They would love, I’m sure, financially to be in one location and do their UFC fights, but their president and CEO Dana White once mentioned, and I agree with him, that to grow the brand and touch the fans he is obligated to take it out into the marketplace and take it to different cities. We will need to do the same.â€

McLane credits working with Buss as a great partner. Someone who has been WOWâ€s biggest cheerleader. The controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers saw the importance of launching an all-female training facility to build homegrown talent. Under the leadership of veteran Selina Majors, the promotion continues to bring in new faces that bring the right balance of athleticism and pizazz.

“By the way, the tag line for the WOW Superheroes was created by Jeanie,†McLane revealed. “When she came to the matches prior to Jeanieâ€s engagement I was calling them the WOW girls. She said, ‘no, they are like real-life action superheroes when they fly off the ropes and do this and that. I fell in love with comic books as a kid. And these are real life comic book people who come to life, bigger than life. They should be called Superheroes. Thatâ€s how they became Superheroes through Jeanie Buss†innate genius marketing skillset.â€

When it comes to WOWâ€s early beginnings in this current run, McLane remains grateful to have had AJ Lee. Someone who came in as an executive producer and commentator during the first season.

“She took a chance with us and came to WOW,†he said. “I think she is proud of the product. Sheâ€ll be on that special with Jeanie Buss. I wanted to get her in the ring with WOW, but the timing wasnâ€t right. She wanted to make sure her body was at a 10 in conditioning and in shape.

She was writing movies and doing comic books when we were able to get her engaged. Just coming off the comic books and going into the movies. It was so fun.

“I never knew AJ until she started working with us. Now itâ€s so fun to watch her and see her prospering and do so well in the ring. I sent her a note when she was going in on the first night of her debut. I said, ‘just soak it in and enjoy it.†Iâ€m sure she did because I could see from the expression on her face. She knows she is getting a blessing of enjoying this with her husband and having fun with it one more time.â€

As for whatâ€s to come on WOW, McLane looks forward to digging a little deeper into the backstories of the Superheroes. He also teased some fiery competition to come for WOW Trio Tag Team Champions Coach Campanelli, Kandi Krush, and Gloria Glitter.

“This is Santana Garrettâ€s run,†McLane continued. “I didnâ€t realize it until we interviewed her in Florida but she has been with every wrestling organization. All the wrestling organizations including WWE and won championships everywhere. She somewhat started her career on a major level with us, with WOW.

“Her dad Kenny G participated before his passing. He was able to come to WOW events and see his daughter. This is like full circle with her back in WOW. I know she would like to make a run for that WOW title. Tormenta is back from Mexico with the championship. Paola Mayfield who was a reality show in 90 Day Fiancé and Amazonâ€s The Goat. So it’s going to be a great season and a lot of great competition.â€

For more information on how to catch WOW, visithttps://www.wowe.com/.

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Figures from Mercury13 have said they want their purchase of Bristol City Women to allow “hundreds of millions of pounds to flow in†to the womenâ€s game from other investors. They believe their deal will provide a blueprint for how to separate a womenâ€s team from a menâ€s club.

Mercury13, which also owns Italian side Como Women, completed its acquisition of a majority stake in Bristol City on 18 September, subject to league approval. The WSL 2 sideâ€s new era began with a 1-0 victory away to Southampton on Sunday.

What will the future hold, though, for the two-time Womenâ€s FA Cup finalists now that they are no longer owned by Bristol Sport, another multi-sport ownership group. “This is a team that belongs to the top tier of English football and weâ€re going to help them get there,†says Mercury13â€s co-founder and co-CEO, Victoire Cogevina Reynal.

Her fellow co-founder and co-CEO, Mario Malavé, says: “This wasnâ€t a traditional takeover, that word really doesnâ€t reflect what this was. Itâ€s all about unlocking growth and unlocking resources. No one got pushed out, no one got pulled in. Itâ€s our responsibility to make the biggest beneficiaries the players and the staff, and we feel now responsible to honour that and show that we can catalyse a new era.

“We are hoping this becomes a blueprint and we hope other people take inspiration from this carve out – we think itâ€s the first that has full operational and commercial control – and we are hoping to start a trend.â€

The agreement allows the team to continue to train at their existing base, the Robins High Performance Centre, and play their home fixtures at Ashton Gate, along with Bristol Cityâ€s menâ€s teams and the Premiership rugby club Bristol Bears.

That makes things sound rather straightforward but those at Mercury13 say it was anything but. “Both sides were potentially a bit naive in how much work a deal like this was going to take,†says Hannah Haynes, the groupâ€s chief strategy officer, who led their work on this acquisition. “It was 16 months from the first meeting to completion. So itâ€s an incredibly proud moment.

“It really is a full-service deal that touched upon every single side of a sports business from IP to employment to data to real estate to corporate structure – a monumental amount of work was required to carve out not just the womenâ€s team from a menâ€s integrated club, but also it sitting underneath a multi-asset group in itself being Bristol Sport. It is the first of its kind, I think, anywhere.â€

Bristol Cityâ€s Gemma Lawley, Harley Bennett and Esther Morgan of Bristol City Women leave their dressing room during the WSL 2 match against Southampton. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/WSL/Getty Images

Asked if the investors plan to change things such as Bristol Cityâ€s kit colour, badge and even name, Haynes says: “This is day zero – in terms of the strategy that will now go into this, but we are very mindful and respectful of Bristol City; its heritage, its legacy, its fandom. That is so important to us. Thereâ€s work to be done before we are able to answer any questions like that. But we will be taking this team forward in the Mercury way.â€

Cogevina Reynal says: “The focus right now is very much on performance on the pitch. In a moment where thereâ€s peak interest in investing in this country, weâ€re showing the way on how to do it [a deal like this], which will then allow hopefully hundreds of millions of pounds to flow into the game at the moment that it most needs it.â€

It has indeed been a busy year among English womenâ€s clubs for ownership structure changes and investments. In May, the Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian, bought a minority stake in Chelsea Women for a reported £20m and in June Aston Villa agreed a deal to sell their womenâ€s team to V Sports, their parent company, to help their menâ€s team comply with profitability and sustainability rules. West Ham were in talks over selling a stake in their womenâ€s team to Monarch Collective, a US private equity firm.

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For Charlotte Healy, who was appointed head coach in June after working as Manchester Unitedâ€s assistant coach, Mercuryâ€s investment means a lot to her. “Just to be seen is a big step in itself, to have people who see potential in womenâ€s sport. These guys really care about womenâ€s sport. They see more potential in the womenâ€s game than anyone Iâ€ve ever spoken to. It was so inspiring – you could hear a pin dropping with the players listening to them.â€

Multi-club ownership models are still relatively new in the womenâ€s game. Could Como and Bristol City soon be loaning players between one another in the transfer market? Malavé sought to reassure fans in this regards. “Knowledge-exchange is a given, so if thereâ€s something Bristol is doing very well weâ€d be silly not to try to get the Como folks to learn from it and vice versa. But the reality is that the chances of that happening [signing a player from Como], of finding a specific player who is perfectly suited for Bristol … could it happen? Sure. But is that the reason we are here? No.

“This is not something we do out of charity – we are convinced that if we give this dedicated management and set up Bristol City Women as their own entity to act independently, the value is going to grow tremendously.â€

Mercury13 have come to the West Country to make money. They are investors, pure and simple, whereas for so long, womenâ€s teams were seen by many clubs as something they ought to run even though it cost them money. “I am not the traditional owner of a football club; Iâ€m a latin woman with tattoos, that is 34 years old,†Cogevina Reynal says. “I donâ€t think a lot of people would expect me to own a football club. We donâ€t invest in other sports, we donâ€t invest on the menâ€s side of the sport.

“It all starts with the premise that womenâ€s teams are completely under-resourced, by every single metric that you can measure, and [weâ€re] going to give them a much better chance to succeed.â€

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Kenya is toasting a golden generation of female track stars after they led the nation to second place in the medal table behind the United States at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.

Female runners won six of the East African nation’s seven gold medals in Tokyo, sweeping top spot on the podium in every event from 800m up to the marathon.

That remarkable run of victories culminated in a stunning upset as Lilian Odira won the 800m on Sunday, shattering her personal best by nearly two seconds as well as a 42-year-old championship record in the process.

What makes the feat even more impressive is that Odira, 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon and marathon winner Peres Jepchirchir are all mothers.

Indeed, Odira, 26, spent several years away from the track to start her family, with two boys now aged four and two, before returning to competition in 2023.

“That just [shows] that even when you are a mother you can still rule the world,” former world 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei told Newsday on the BBC World Service.

“It doesn’t stop you.

“That’s being a role model to the young ones. This is a way of showing also the African girl, with our culture, that you can also challenge even when you have a baby.”

Jepkosgei, who also won an Olympic silver at Beijing 2008, says these performances demonstrate a cultural shift in Kenyan athletics, and within the country itself.

“During our time, when someone gets married or have a baby, the career ends,” she added.

“And sometimes, with our culture, we were losing a lot of talents. But this now shows how far we can [go].

“We can change our societies, we can change our communities, we can change our culture.”

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