EXCLUSIVE: Cardiff City Ladies choose a bold boss in Champions League bid
A consortium led by the multibillion dollar business Canva just acquired Cardiff City Ladies, the only Welsh club competing in the English women’s system.
Cardiff City Ladies have confirmed the appointment of Gemma Donnelley as their new manager.
Fresh off a lucrative takeover, the Welsh club have moved to bring in the former Blackburn Rovers boss, who has previously worked with Lionesses stars Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone, in what is a major statement signing.
Earlier this month, Damien Singh, the chief financial officer of the multibillion-dollar social media graphics company Canva, and Welsh entrepreneur Julian Jenkins announced a shocking takeover of the independent amateur club. After been promoted from the fourth tier of English women’s football last season, Cardiff City Ladies, who have no connection to the Championship team Cardiff City, presently compete in the Women’s National League South, the third division.
Jenkins and Singh, the club’s new majority owners, have lofty goals for the organization, including reinvigorating the club’s production of elite talent (the club’s historical talent pipeline includes OL Reign’s Jess Fishlock and Chelsea’s Sophie Ingle). The new proprietors have made a
When Donnelly led Rovers’ Center of Excellence starting in 2007, she is largely responsible for the development of Euro 2022 champions Walsh, Stanway, and Toone. She played for Blackburn Rovers Ladies for 16 years. Since then, Walsh has improved to become one of the greatest midfielders in the league, and last summer, he was the object of a world-record transfer to Barcelona.
In the meantime, Toone of Manchester United and Stanway of Bayern Munich have both become well-known figures in the UK and throughout the world. After serving as the club’s caretaker manager for half a season, Donnelley assumed control of Rovers in July 2014.
Under her leadership, Rovers won the Premier League Cup twice, the Championship play-off final in 2019, and the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division title three years in a row.
However, Donnelley left the organization in April by mutual agreement in order to “pursue other opportunities,” which left Rovers in last place overall. Since Jamie Phillip left Cardiff City Ladies at the beginning of the season, the team has been without a head coach, and their transition back into the third tier has proven challenging. They have only earned two points in their previous five games.
The club have been vigilant in their pursuit of a new manager, with tactical nous and Championship experience major sticking points for the new owners. Donnelley represents the club’s first-ever full-time manager and her appointment is viewed as a notable step towards professionalisation.
The women’s game has seen exponential investment in recent years, with a number of tier three and four sides now operating on upwards of six-figure budgets. Upon her appointment, Donnelley said: “The takeover news caught my attention because I’ve always admired the passion and commitment of everyone at Cardiff City Ladies, especially Karen and Michele. Julian’s call, detailing the vision he shares with Damien and acknowledging the work already in place, convinced me this is the right path.”
Co-owner Singh added: “These past weeks have been nothing short of transformational. Gemma joining us is not just an appointment; it’s a testament to where we’re headed. Her two decades of experience will undoubtedly steer us towards a brighter, more competitive future.”
