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03
Aug 2022
Harrogate Town's new women's manager leaves suddenly
The manager of Harrogate Town's women's team has left — five days after his appointment was announced.
The club issued a press release last week saying Liam Cope had taken over the reins and had already recruited several players. He was also due to help with player development.
But today a Town spokesman said "the agreement has since been ended and we are looking to recruit again".
Cope, who has managed Ossett Town Ladies and been assistant manager at Leeds United Women, was due to arrive with a backroom team including a nutritionist and goalkeeping coach.
He said his ambition was to take the club to the next stage up the football pyramid by reaching the Women’s National League.
But the role is being advertised again. The closing date for applicants is Tuesday next week.
The Stray Ferret asked the club why Mr Cope had left suddenly and whether his backroom team would also not be joining the club.
A club spokesman said he understood "the club and Liam had mutually agreed that it would be best for him not to continue in the role".
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Harrogate Town Ladies currently play in the North East Regional Women’s Football League, which is one step below the Women's National League Division One North.
They play home matches on the 3G pitch at Rossett Sports Centre, with their first fixture scheduled to be at home to South Shields on September 4.
Mr Cope said it was a fantastic club and he didn't have a bad word to say about anyone at it.
But he added it was a club "in a state of transition" and "I'm not at a stage in my life where I can join a club in transition". He added he "wasn't aware of the size of the project" when he agreed to take on the role.
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