Bristol manager Smith leaves 12 days before new season

Bristol City head Lauren Smith has resigned conscionable 12 days earlier nan Women's Championship play begins.

BBC Sport understands Smith is presently successful precocious talks to return connected a domiciled elsewhere.

Former Wales adjunct head Smith has been successful complaint of nan Vixens since 2021 and guided nan nine to their first ever convention title arsenic they won promotion to nan Women's Super League successful 2023, earlier their consequent relegation aft 1 play successful nan apical flight.

In August 2023, she signed a three-year deal that would support her astatine nan nine until 2026.

"It is pinch a very dense bosom that I time off nan club, a nine that intends truthful overmuch to me, but nan clip is correct for maine to research caller opportunities," Smith said.

"I want to convey each nan unit and players that I person worked pinch complete nan years for their support and difficult activity connected and disconnected nan pitch.

"I will ever support a keen oculus connected really City are doing and wish everyone good for nan coming season."

The Championship play gets nether measurement connected 8 September, pinch Bristol City distant to Southampton successful their opening game.

Loren Dykes will return connected nan domiciled of interim caput coach arsenic nan nine hunt for an contiguous replacement.

Gavin Marshall, chair of Bristol City Women, said: "It is difficult to put into words really overmuch Lauren has fixed to Bristol City complete nan years.

"I convey her for her tireless difficult activity and committedness to nan improvement of City Women. We are sad to spot her go."

Smith had a short spell arsenic adjunct coach for Tottenham Hotspur Women successful 2021, betwixt her roles astatine Wales and Bristol.