Revealed: Why Paul Green left Chelsea Women in shock exit after 19 trophies in 13 years, the problems that Emma Hayes’ departure exposed and what Blues bosses want from replacement

Paul Green left Chelsea after the departure of legendary manager Emma Hayes exposed a perceived lack of leadership at the WSL powerhouse, Daily Mail Sport understands.

Women’s football was left stunned on Monday when the club announced that their head of football had departed following 13 years’ service in an era of sustained success which saw the team lift 19 trophies.

Some have questioned the logic of the move, which came just a week after Hayes’ replacement Sonia Bompastor signed a new contract.

In the days previous, Bompastor had voiced her frustration at recruitment during the summer, highlighting a lack of squad depth as one of the reasons Chelsea found themselves nine points behind leaders Manchester City.

It is understood the manager’s views reflected a wider view already held by key figures in the club’s hierarchy and that Green appears to have been held responsible. 

A review into Chelsea’s disappointing season so far has been carried out and concluded that a fresh structure was needed to best support the staff and players.

Head coach Sonia Bompastor has voiced her frustrations at the champions’ recruitment this season and senior figures shared her concerns

Following the departure of Hayes, who worked closely with Green, Chelsea shifted from a manager-led model to a head-coach model.

Hayes was known to have been heavily involved across all areas and took on the vast majority of major decision making.

Bompastor’s remit was, and is, more that of a pure coach, with a focus on performance and technical style rather than the overall running of the club and recruitment. In her first season the Frenchwoman led the club to an unbeaten domestic treble, but problems have since emerged.

Decision makers have put many of those issues down to gaps which gradually emerged and widened in the club’s leadership post-Hayes and that areas of their operation were, all of a sudden, not operating at the elite level required.

The transfer window was one of the areas identified as those which needed improvement, according to those with knowledge of the situation.

Chelsea will now seek a replacement as part of a new leadership structure with the aim of ensuring consistency and accountability.

Club officials paid tribute to Green, who delivered five successive WSL titles and a first Champions League final with Hayes, who left in 2024 to take over as coach of the United States women’s team.

Emma Hayes left as Chelsea manager in 2024 to take over as the US women’s national team manager

Indeed, in 2022 he stepped in as interim manager when Hayes underwent emergency hysterectomy surgery.

Chelsea said Green ‘played a significant role in the development and growth of the women’s programme’ and ‘contributed to the establishment of strong foundations and the evolution of Chelsea Women into one of the leading teams in the domestic and European game’.

‘The club remains grateful for the role Paul played during a highly successful period for the women’s team and recognises his long service,’ they added.