FIONA McIntyre's appointment as SWPL managing director means the Scottish FA will again be looking for a new head of girls' and women's football. Or does it?
The post was created in 1998 and occupied by Sheila Begbie until she departed in 2014 to take up a similar post with Scottish Rugby. Begbie was a politically astute operator who lifted the status of the sport at a time when most in the Hampden hierarchy viewed it as something to be kept in its box.
Mcintyre, who was appointed 17 months ago after the post had been left vacant for the previous 18, was the driving force behind the girls' and women's strategy which was published almost exactly a year ago. She also strengthened relationships with the SFA board and senior staff, but in March was seconded to the SPFL as interim managing director of the new SWPL.
That became permanent on Tuesday, although it is understood that McIntyre may be required to see out her notice period at the SFA. The question for the governing body now is whether to find a like for like replacement, or to recognise how much the landscape has changed in the last few years, never mind since 1998 when the job description was initially written.
The recent advent of professionalism has created a clear distinction between the top clubs and the grassroots game. That was underlined by the former's decision to leave Scottish Women's Football and join the SPFL's subsidiary company.
There may, therefore, be a view that it is no longer the best option to recruit a head of girls' and women's football whose responsibilities would continue to lie with both ends of the game. Creating two posts, with one helping SWF grow grassroots football and the other liaising with the top clubs to ensure the interests of the national team are being maximised might be the way forward.
The growing trend among the SWPL 1 clubs to recruit players from other countries will have negative consequences for Scotland in the near future. It is, however, a reflection of the fact that there are very few young Scottish players of the required quality.
A coherent youth development strategy, driven by the new SFA appointee and backed with the necessary funding, is overdue.
“EMSLIE is the hero. Her first game for Angel City.”
So said the commentator at the end of the NWSL match between the aforesaid Angel City and San Diego Wave last Sunday. Claire Emslie scored nine minutes from the end to give the far from angelic home side – they had a player sent off – a 2-1 win.
It was Emslie's first club game since leaving Everton at the end of last season, and although she had been destined for Angel City much earlier through the American draft system her signing was only announced ten days ago.
Angel City are based in Los Angeles, which means a Pacific instead of Atlantic outlook for Emslie. The 28-year-old spent three years at university in Florida before later joining Orlando Pride between her spells at Manchester City and Everton.
Her new club is almost literally that as this is their first season in the NWSL. They were founded in July, 2020, by several (it is LA after all) showbiz and sporting celebrities, including Natalie Portman, Mia Hann and Serena Williams.
Allyson Swaby, the older sister of departed Rangers central defender Chantelle, is also in a squad which has won five and drawn four of their first eleven games in America's top league to sit fifth in the table.
The club's sporting director is former 102-times capped England forward Eni Aluko and there was a sell-out 22,000 crowd at the Banc of California Stadium they share with MLS side Los Angeles FC for the win over San Diego Wave.
The intention had been to provide more insight on this interesting club, but while its owners may be A List, the response to my media inquiry was in the Z spectrum.
WE are approaching the halfway point of the Euros and so far the tournament in England has been a resounding success. The group games have been mostly entertaining with plenty of goals, the quality of play continues to rise as professionalism becomes the norm at this level, and the quarter finals will start on Wednesday with a hugely enticing tie between the hosts and Spain.
The BBC's coverage has also been very good. The games are being given the status they deserve, while female commentators and pundits from a number of countries have provided a refreshing change from the usual pale, male, stale and cliche-ridden suspects.
