Rehanne Skinner left her position as West Ham Women‘s head coach with immediate effect. This decision comes on the heels of a disastrous beginning of the 2025/26 season that had the club worried. Skinner came aboard in the summer of 2023. She continued to make history as the first female head coach of the women’s team in the Women’s Super League (WSL) era.
Skinner’s departure comes just days ahead of West Ham’s important League Cup quarter-final with Manchester City. The match is scheduled to be broadcast on Multiview via Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage beginning at 12:50 PM and kickoff set for 1 PM.
A Challenging Season
Under Skinner’s stewardship, West Ham women had the first team woes that have brought them to the point of no return. The team’s handling of the situation has come under fierce fire. This comes after their surprising 2-2 draw against Liverpool — themselves now ranked below Everton in the league table. Though they had made incremental progress on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, the teams’ performance the past season led to rumors of a change.
Charlotte Marsh, a sports analyst, noted, “It felt like only a matter of time before West Ham made a change given their WSL form so far this season.” This feeling captures the growing pressure on Skinner, as her ambitious agenda fell short of the hoped-for outcomes.
Support and Squad Development
While Skinner faced challenges during her tenure, she had strong support from the club, evident in her ability to recruit major signings. Specialists—players such as Kinga Szemik and Shekiera Martinez—stepped forward to be important contributors in both thirds of the pitch. Kristie Mewis and Katrina Gorry have been added to the squad in January 2024. Shelina Zadorsky, who has played under Skinner at Tottenham, was a major addition.
Even with support in recruitment, West Ham floundered to a ninth-place finish last season, securing just 23 points. Skinner focused on making their home ground in Dagenham a formidable place for opponents. Sadly, all that hard work wasn’t enough to save her job.
Acknowledgment from the Club
In response to Skinner’s exit, the West Ham board released a statement thanking her for her hard work and help.
“The board would like to thank Rehanne for her hard work and commitment during her time with the Hammers and wish her every success for the future.” – West Ham Club statement
West Ham Women’s next match is away to Manchester City on Sunday (October 29). For these teams, hoping to have fortunes reversed under new leadership, they’ll enter a critical juncture in their seasons.
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