June 26 – The first woman manage of a senior male professional team, Helena Costa, has resigned before she had the chance to see Clermont Foot kick a ball under her management. Costa’s appointment caused a media frenzy when announced last month and she was set to be a progressive trailblazer – a woman appointed to manage a professional men’s team in the French second division. But the Portuguese found her position untenable due to a poor working environment.
On Monday the president of Clermont Foot, Claude Michy, revealed her resignation in a short statement. In a press conference on Tuesday Costa refrained from explaining the reasons for her decision, stating that she had discussed her reasons privately with Michy.
But since then she has seemingly been provoked to comment further in response to new statements from Michy’s on his version of the events. Michy is reported as claiming not to know the reasons of her resignation, stating, “She’s a woman so it could be down to any number of things,” and in similar cavalier fashion, “There is no rational explanation…it’s not the first time a man has been dumped by a woman.”
He said at the time that Costa “takes her secret with her”, but she has loosened her tongue in response.
Costa has detailed the reasons for her departure, pointing to a lack of respect. Specifics include hearing about players being signed without her approval through the club secretary, lack of response to messages from the Director of Football, Olivier Chavanon, who was on holiday, cancelled meetings, no confirmation of the pre-season schedule, and never having the opportunity to meet the players.
Costa’s comments intimate that Michy’s appointing of Costa was never done in seriousness, as he insisted at the time, feeding suspicions that he was merely seeking publicity. This may well backfire though due to Costa’s statements, with the press and public opinion turning rapidly against the club and its executives.
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