FA Women’s technical director Kay Cossington set to leave in May

Kay Cossington is to leave her role as the Football Association’s women’s technical director later this year.

In charge of the women’s technical team within the FA since 2016, she will depart to become head of women’s football at investment firm Sixth Street and chief executive of Bay Collective, a multi-club global organisation being launched by the owners of NWSL side Bay FC.

Cossington played a key role in the appointment of England head coach Sarina Wiegman in 2020 and oversaw the team’s historic Euro 2022 triumph and run to the 2023 World Cup final.

“We are sorry to see Kay go but she leaves with our sincere thanks for her contribution to our winning England teams, particularly the development of the Lionesses pathway critical to the Euro success and the silver medal at the World Cup,” FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said in a statement to BBC Sport.

Bullingham added that Cossington leaves after 20 years of “incredible commitment to the women’s game”.

Cossington, who will leave the FA on 31 May before beginning her new role, said in a statement: “For decades, I have studied women’s football at every age and rank, across regions, leagues, and styles.

“My conclusion is clear – there is a better way to develop players on and off the pitch, build championship clubs, and keep our athletes at the centre of everything we do. We only need the resources and the will to do it.

“As women’s football has experienced rapid growth in recent years, I believe we are at a critical inflection point. Now is the time to use this momentum to set even higher standards and start building something new and lasting to take the sport to its next glass-breaking level.”

A former West Ham player, Cossington joined the FA in 2005 as the Under-15s coach and was part of the coaching staff that won the under 19 European Championship four years later.

She became the head of women’s technical division in 2016 and was named the women’s technical director in 2020.

Apart from being majority owners of Bay FC, Sixth Street is also a strategic investment partner for sports teams including Barcelona, Real Madrid, the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Yankees.