London City Lionesses switch for Rossvale Women’s coach Edward Gallagher

Edward Gallagher, who was appointed by Vale in March to spearhead the club’s entry into the Scottish senior women’s set-up, has been appointed by the English Championship club as their new general manager.

Despite the briefness of his stay at Vale, who aim to run a team in Scottish Women’s Championship South in season 2021, he said he is leaving on good terms.

But he admitted the chance to move to the Lionesses was too good an opening to ignore.

He said: “Women’s football in England is developing at a very fast rate and they have some of the best leagues in the world.

“The opportunity to work full time in the FA Women’s Championship was just too good an opportunity to turn down.”

The former Celtic under-19 head coach and girls’ academy operations manager has also had spells working in the USA and in Finland, where he was assistant coach to Champions League side Åland United.

Former East Stirlingshire men’s coach Craig Tully has been appointed Edward’s successor, stepping up from assistant manager.

Rossvale FC women chairman Michael Docherty said: “As well as his wealth of knowledge and experience as a player, coach and manager at various levels of the senior game in Scotland, Craig has great ideas and enthusiasm to take the club forward, he was the outstanding candidate for the role.

“This is the start of a new era for this football club and I am excited about what the future holds.”

The club also issued a statement confirming Edward’s departure, but wishing him all the best.

It read: “While we are disappointed to lose Edward, we sincerely wish him well and success in his new role and in the future. We are extremely grateful for the work Edward did at the club in his short time with us.”

Mr Docherty added: “I would like to thank Edward for his time at Rossvale and we appreciate everything he has done in developing the Girls Academy and Women’s First Team.”