LONDON: The England women’s new coach should be female, says the national team’s record goalscorer Kelly Smith.
Mark Sampson, 34, was sacked on Wednesday after evidence emerged of “inappropriate and unacceptable” behaviour in a previous role.
“I think they’ll take their time on getting the right person, they can’t be hasty,” said Smith, who has ruled herself out of contention for the role.
“I’d like to see a female take over, but we’ll have to see what happens.”
Smith, who was capped 117 times and scored 46 goals, is not in the running to replace Sampson, although Manchester City’s Nick Cushing, Chelsea’s Emma Hayes and Seattle Reign’s Laura Harvey are among the possible contenders.
Pauline Cope, England goalkeeper from 1995 to 2004, believes the Football Association will want to appoint a female coach.
“I don’t think it matters, but the way the FA work, they won’t want another man in charge now, that’s how I see it,” she told BBC Radio 5 live.
Asked to nominate a successor, Cope added: “For me, Mo Marley (head coach of England women’s Under-19s) and Marieanne Spacey (England women’s player and coach developer) at the moment. Long term Hayes because she is a brilliant manager, but she probably won’t get it because she is outspoken and the FA probably want yes people.”
Rachel Yankey, England’s most-capped footballer with 129 appearances, said: “I don’t think it matters – the best person for the job. I don’t think gender should come into it.
“It should be seen as the knowledge of who can run the team the best, and get the best out of the team. I don’t think that matters whether you’re a male or a female.”
Meanwhile, Professional Footballers’ Association chief Gordon Taylor said the Football Association’s decision to employ Sampson needs an independent review.
According to the Women in Football group, the FA was warned about employing the former Bristol Academy coach.
“I just felt the more it carried on, it did need an independent inquiry,” Taylor told BBC Sport.
“We have our own barristers who advise and the FA has theirs, but I think it’s called for a really independent review – a fresh look, with what’s coming out and what’s happened this week.
“I think it needs a fresh pair of eyes to look at what’s gone on. The main thing is you don’t want players jeopardised in the future if they have any grievances or complaints.
“It’s the same with any whistle blowers, you need to protect them, otherwise how are things going to improve?”
The Women in Football group said questions over Sampson’s suitability were raised during his recruitment process in 2013, before his appointment in December of that year.
FA chief executive Martin Glenn, who took up his post in May 2015, said it was only last week that he read the full report which detailed safeguarding allegations made against Sampson in 2014 relating to his time as Bristol Academy manager.
A 2015 FA assessment found Sampson did not pose a risk.
