Wolves Women manager Dan McNamara has provided his thoughts following the departures of Ali Miller, Ria Elsmore and Naomi Bedeau.
After three seasons in Old Gold, Miller has opted to take a break from football to concentrate on her studies, while Elsmore, who arrived in 2021 from West Bromwich Albion, moves on following two successful campaigns.
Defender Bedeau signed for the club in April earlier this year and scored twice in five appearances but, following an offer of full-time football at Newcastle United, her short Wolves career has come to an end.
Miller was a league champion and back-to-back Birmingham County Cup winner during her time with the club and McNamara has described the attacker’s impact as “phenomenal”.
“It’s more of a thanks to Ali for her commitment and what she’s brought to the programme over the last few years,” McNamara said.
“She’s been phenomenal and is a fan favourite. She scored some big goals for us and we’ll miss that lively energy that she so often brought off the bench.
“Ali’s had some big moments in a Wolves shirt. Blackburn in the FA Cup a couple of years ago most notably springs to mind, so she’s played a huge role over the last few seasons. She was a defenders nightmare when they saw her warming up so she’ll certainly be remembered in a Wolves shirt. As I said, she’s a bit of a fans favourite as well and that says a lot about her as a person and her work ethic.”
Like Miller, Elsmore was also part of the 2021/22 title success and collected two County Cup winners’ medals during her two-year stay, with McNamara praising the personality the defender brought to the dressing room.
“Ria’s an amazing person and really did add to the group. She was an unbelievable character to have around the environment and has really played her part.
“She’s played in some big games and probably hasn’t got the minutes she felt she deserved, but it’s another huge loss out of the dressing room.
“Whichever environment Ria ends up at, it will certainly be of benefit to them and hopefully she’s taken some great memories away from Wolves over the last two years.”
McNamara has expressed his disappointment following Bedeau’s departure, but admits that a full-time offer was one the defender couldn’t refuse with the club unable to match what was on the table.
“We’re disappointed to lose Nom,” McNamara said. “However, I fully understand her rationale behind her decision – it’s not very often that kind of opportunity arises. That’s her dream and she obviously needs to go and fulfil that.
“In the very short space of time that she was with us, she quickly turned into a fans favourite and I know there will be some disappointment around her going – in the group, from the staff and from the fans.
“Ultimately, we can’t compete with the offer that’s been put on the table to her and she’s rightly got to explore that and fulfil her dream as a full-time footballer.”
McNamara has also discussed the competitiveness of the third tier as he embarks on his fifth full season in charge of the Old Gold.
“The level that we’re working at is tough and it’s often tougher than the professional game. We’re trying to be as professional as we can with female players who have ultimately got family, lives and full-time jobs that they’ve also got to contend with. It’s really hard to try and stay ahead of the curve now.
“We’ve just got to keep building and doing what we can with what we’ve got and see where that takes us over the next 12 months.
“We always need to freshen it up with three or four and we’re working hard behind the scenes to try and get them done.
“We want to make sure that we get them in as quickly as possible so that we’re working with them throughout pre-season. We’re working on that so hopefully we’ll have new arrivals to come in and stamp their agenda on this group of people.”
