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Carter carries on at Birmingham

Birmingham City are delighted to announce that Darren Carter has been appointed as Head Coach, with former Blues star Jo Potter as his assistant.

The 38-year-old has signed a two-year deal with Birmingham City, having been in interim charge of the First Team since November 2021.

His appointment in November saw Blues' form drastically improve, picking up five victories in all competitions and reaching the quarter finals of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup since the turn of the year.

Having put pen to paper on a permanent deal, Carter expressed his delight at being able to lead the side into the new FA Women’s Championship season.

He told BCFC.com: “This is where is home for me. My full focus is driving this team back to where it belongs and back in the Women's Super League.

"We want to be competing at the top level, and that is the drive for us now. My drive and passion for this team has only got stronger."

Blues Women’s General Manager, Sarah Westwood, added: “We are delighted that Darren has extended his stay with the Club and look forward to continuing our work with him over the next two years. Darren knows what it means to play for Birmingham City, and we have already seen that passed onto the players during the second half of last season.

“Darren’s ambitions match that of the Club and we are excited to enter this new period with him in charge. We want the fans to continue to support Darren and the team as we look towards a successful season in the FA Women’s Championship.”

During his time as interim boss, Carter oversaw the toppling of an unbeaten Arsenal side and success against Blues' Second City rivals on the final day of the season.

An unbeaten April, which included a draw against Everton and victory on the road against Brighton & Hove Albion, also saw him named Barclays FA Women’s Super League Manager of the Month.

He has now been tasked with guiding the team back to the BFAWSL and will work with the Club to recruit and retain players to achieve such ambitions.

Former Birmingham City midfielder Jo Potter has spent the last four years coaching at FA Women’s Championship side Coventry United Ladies, recently helping them to secure their second-tier status on the campaign's final day. She now returns to Blues where the England international enjoyed three separate spells, the second of which included winning the Women's FA Cup in 2012.

Across her spells at the Club, she made over 100 appearances in royal blue and helped Blues to runners-up finishes in the FA Women's Super League in 2011 and 2012.

Having agreed terms on a two-year deal, Potter spoke of her excitement at returning to the Second City, telling BCFC.com: “It is surreal. I knew it was the right place for me to come back to for my career. I'm really excited.

"I've always got Blues in my heart. I spent over a decade of my career here. It didn't take much convincing for me to come back."

Head Coach Darren Carter was delighted to add Potter to his coaching staff: “The fact that she has been at the Club and cares about it, is a big thing. She will have the respect of the players and she wants to drive my vision with me.

"It will go down very well with the players and supporters and I am looking forward to it."

During her playing career, the 37-year-old made over 30 appearances for the Lionesses, scoring three goals in the process, as well as picking up bronze at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015.

She played for a number of further clubs, including Arsenal, Leicester City and Notts County, before hanging up her boots at the end of a three-year spell with Reading in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.

Following Potter’s appointment as Assistant Head Coach, Tony Elliott will become Lead Goalkeeping Coach as part of Darren Carter’s coaching staff moving forward.