England women’s coach Danny Kerry is being tipped to take charge of the men’s team, according to reports.
It is widely rumoured that Kerry, who saw his women’s side exit at the World Cup quarter-final stage, has applied to take up a different challenge with the vacant men’s coaching role.
Kerry took charge of the women’s side up until 2012 where he guided Team GB to Olympic bronze.
A brief spell as performance director was halted in 2014 when Jason Lee exited as women’s coach after a poor World Cup and Kerry took charge for a second time, famously leading the team to Olympic gold in Rio.
Kerry’s contract was reportedly extended before the Rio Olympics, although he was expected to leave after the Games, according to the Daily Telegraph.
England Hockey has been looking for a men’s coach after Bobby Crutchley left his position in May to join British Gymnastics in a performance role.
Crutchley had taken England to bronze medals at the EuroHockey Championships last summer and April’s Commonwealth Games.
After a ninth position finish at the Rio Olympics, a post-Games review saw several key figures leave the central programme, including talented trio Ashley Jackson, Nick Catlin and Iain Lewers.
Kate Richardson-Walsh had fuelled the speculation of Kerry after telling BT Sport in the aftermath of England’s defeat: “The temptation of that men’s coaching job is a tempting one.
“I do know he has gone for it and who knows what’s going to happen.”
After so long overseeing women’s teams, it will be interesting to see how Kerry would cope in charge of the men’s side if his application – international coaches have also applied for the role – proves successful.
Sally Munday, England Hockey’s chief executive, said: “We are still in the recruitment process so it would not be appropriate to comment.
“When the process is concluded we will naturally communicate in due course.”
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