Phelan named permanent Everton Women manager

Scott Phelan took over from former boss Brian Sorensen in February [Getty Images] Scott Phelan has been appointed permanent head coach of Everton Women following an interim period last season. The 38-year-old took over on a temporary basis in February when Brian Sorensen was sacked and led the Toffees to an eighth-placed finish in the Women's Super League. With the club just four points off the bottom when he took over, Phelan picked up three successive WSL wins in an impressive start to his interim spell. Having joined Everton as a player at the age of eight and progressed through the club's academy without making a senior appearance, he returned as a coach in 2012. Former Everton striker Phil Jevons, who initially returned to the club on an interim basis in February, will support Phelan going forward. "To have the opportunity to lead our women's team as head coach is something I do not take for granted. I am looking forward to what's ahead," said Phelan. "We want to push forward and try to get back to the place where we believe Everton Football Club should be and that's towards the top end of the table." [BBC] New episodes of Women's Football Weekly podcast drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page