By TARA ANSON-WALSH, WOMEN'S FOOTBALL REPORTER
Published: 09:23 EDT, 27 August 2025 | Updated: 09:23 EDT, 27 August 2025
Matt Beard has resigned as Burnley manager after being denied permission to speak to Leicester.
Daily Mail Sport can reveal that the Foxes are believed to want Beard to replace Amandine Miquel, who remains in post.
Beard, who was only appointed Burnley manager in June, is understood to have asked Burnley that he wished to speak to the WSL side.
When that request was declined, he tended his resignation and the club announced his departure on Wednesday morning.
Burnley, whose women's team play in the National League, have wanted to make a good go of making a success this season off the back and the appointment of former Chelsea and Liverpool manager Beard was seen as an ambitious move to get the team into WSL2 (formerly the Championship).
The move may raise eyebrows given 41-year-old French coach Miquel is still in the job.
Matt Beard handed in his resignation to Burnley just two months after joining the club
Beard was from blocked from talking to to WSL side Leicester, who have a manager in post
Leicester finished 10th in the top-flight last season, avoiding relegation by 10 points. They have been in the WSL for four seasons, after earning promotion in 2021.
Beard, 47, was sacked by Liverpool in February this year, with the club citing the need to build on their promotion success and find future growth and momentum.
Gareth Taylor has since taken post with the Reds.
In a statement on Wednesday morning, Burnley said: 'We're naturally very disappointed with Matt's decision, but we're already looking positively to the future to ensure we remain on track to achieve our objectives for the 2025-26 season and beyond.'
Daily Mail Sport has contacted Leicester for comment.