Harrison Armstrong reflects on his time with former academy coach Scott Phelan ahead of his first Women's Super League game in charge of Everton Women
Everton Women’s interim head coach Scott Phelan
Everton Women’s interim head coach Scott Phelan
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Everton Women new interim head coach Scott Phelan has been around the club's environment for years, playing at youth level before heading up the academy from Under-10s up to U18s.
That means he has oversaw a number of players during his time at Everton, including men's first-team rising star Harrison Armstrong.
And the 19-year-old midfielder, recalled from a loan spell at Preston North End, spoke to evertontv about Phelan’s positive impact on his youth development.
Armstrong said: “I’ve got a fantastic relationship with Scott. He’s one of the coaches in the academy that I’m probably closest to.
“He’d always want you to be very involved in the sessions and show your creativity.”
“I thought I’d seen enough of him, but then he moved up to the 18s!”
Phelan has worked in the Everton academy since 2012, before stepping up to fill the void at Everton Women left by the shock sacking of Brian Sorensen this week, hours after the transfer deadline closed.
Phelan said: “My affiliation with the club goes back a long time. I was known in the building and the club thought I would be an appropriate appointment.
“What the years in the club have told me is how important the Women’s team are in this club."
Speaking in his first press conference as interim head coach, Phelan revealed that he wants Everton Women to evolve into a more attacking side under his tenure.
Phelan said: “Spending a lot of time in higher areas of the pitch is something I want to achieve.
“We want the team to be confident and play with freedom and bravery. They need to enjoy it – it is a privilege to be at this club, as a player or a member of staff.
“We want to play at Goodison Park and away grounds with a style.”
Currently sitting in ninth place, Everton Women will travel to the capital on Sunday to face the sixth-placed London City Lionesses, having won their first home game of the Women's Super League campaign last weekend.
Two goals from Martina Fernandez, including an 89th-minute winner, saw the Blues dispatch Aston Villa 2-1 for a much-needed home victory.
But, with only three wins in the entire league campaign, the three points weren’t enough to save Sorensen’s job. The Dane had been in charge since 2022.
Stephen Neligan and Ashley Tootle have also departed their roles, so Phelan will be joined by Jennifer Foster and goalkeeping coach Ian McCaldon.
He said: “Jen has been amazing. She is so humble and knowledgeable about the women’s game.
“She is invaluable and an outstanding coach. She is somebody that will be really valuable and is a massive part of what we are going to do.”
The new coaching team led training for the first time on Thursday.
Phelan said: “What I’ve seen in training today has encouraged me to suggest there are plenty of promising moments that could arrive between now and the end of the season.
“Today was a real privilege to be around the players and train them. They have been so professional in the last 24 hours.”
Ahead of first game in charge, Phelan added: “There is no demand for league position, we just want to be a winning team again.”
Honoka Hayashi, meanwhile, has signed a new contract with Everton Women until the end of June 2027, with a club option for a further year.