Hope Powell: FA loses Hope / Now Hope is Gone

Four pages on Hope Powell’s departure, announced by the FA on 20 August with immediate effect. Alex Horne’s statement credits her commitment, names the 2009 European final as the high point, and says the Club England Board judged the time right for a fresh outlook after Sweden. Brent Hills takes temporary charge for the World Cup qualifiers. Catherine Etoe frames two pages of collected tweets that run from tribute to relief, among them Vera Pauw defending her over injuries, Jacqui Oatley on the succession, and pointed contributions from Kate Longhurst and others. A closing analysis weighs her unmatched influence against a controlling style, fall-outs with players and a sidelining of critics, and notes that Sir Trevor Brooking’s comments during the Euros suggested the elite development role was no longer open to her. A career timeline runs from 1984 to 2013.