Scottish Women's Football

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Ahead of the new SWPL season kicking off this weekend, Glasgow City boss Leanne Ross has added to her backroom staff.

The Petershill side have hired former Scotland centre-back Michelle Barr in the role of assistant coach.

Previously a coach with the Old Dominion Monarchs in Virginia, more recently Barr held a role within the SFA as a national youth support programme manager for girls and women's football, and was also part of the national side's scouting team before the 2019 World Cup.

As a player, she competed in Scotland, England, Iceland and the United States while racking up 87 caps for her country between 1996 and 2005.

Speaking to club media, Barr said: ''It's a great opportunity to work with a team that's been so successful over the years. One that is fully led by women, very independent and doesn't rely on men's clubs.

''I'm excited to work with players. I'm very passionate about that, developing players, helping them be the best they can be and to work alongside Leanne, who has had success here both as a player and as a coach.

"We've only ever played against each other so it's nice to now be on this side of things. I've been against them and now I get to be alongside them, so that's pretty, pretty cool.''

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Hibernian have signed Northern Irish full-back Sofie Keenan from NIFL Premiership side Glentoran on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 20-year-old joined Glentoran from fellow Northern Irish side Linfield back in January 2024 and made over 70 appearances in the country's top flight and turned out in the Champions League.

The full-back played a key role in Glentoran's title win in 2025 and was named young player of the year during that campaign.

"I'm absolutely buzzing to be here," Keenan said.

"I think it's a really special moment for me and my family, moving to a full-time environment and a professional club.

"It was something I couldn't turn down. I think this is the right step for me. It came at the perfect time. Hibs is such a massive club and it's something I want to be part of, so it's special to be here."

Head coach Joelle Murray added: "Sofie is a really exciting signing for Hibs.

"She is a young player with huge potential and a Northern Ireland youth national team international who has already shown her quality at a high level.

"She's a quality left-footed left-back, composed on the ball and provides plenty of energy and ability going forward. She'll be a fantastic addition to the squad and I'm looking forward to seeing her develop further in green and white."

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Rangers defender Kathryn Hill wants her side to "use the hurt" of going without silverware last season ahead of their new campaign.

Hill, who until last year had never experienced a season without a trophy for the club, lost out on the title on the final day of the campaign, and lost both domestic cup finals to Glasgow City and Celtic.

The side have already been knocked out of Champions League qualifying this season after losing to Ajax.

"It was strange because it's the first season I've not won silverware, so reflecting on that, it was very disappointing," she said.

"To have clawed our way back into a title race and then lost in the manner we did on the last day was really poor from us.

"Then we followed that up the following week with a cup final and losing against our rivals.

"I think it could have been a great season and it ended up a really bad season.

"I think when you reflect on that, you need to try and think why and where we went wrong and hopefully use that going into the new season.

"As I said, I've never not won a trophy with the Rangers, so that was strange not having those celebrations and those moments with your teammates.

"We've got to use the hurt, but also use the excitement and the freshness of the squad and the new players coming in and look forward."

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Caley Gibb fully backs Hibs to do well this season under Joelle Murray but admits it may take time for their recruits to bed in.

Hibs were crowned SWPL champions the season before last but lost title-winning manager Grant Scott towards the end of last term when he joined league rivals Celtic.

Former captain Murray took over at the club and guided them to a fourth-place finish.

Since then, Murray has lost key players such as strikers Kathleen McGovern and Eilidh Adams but also SWPL veterans such as Lauren Doran-Barr and Ciara Grant and exciting youngsters such as Rosie Livingstone.

But Gibb says the squad can't use that to justify any poor performances, despite the squad still gelling.

"We can't really come up with excuses, it's football and that happens, unfortunately, people come and go," she said.

"Joelle's come in, she's really established herself as our manager, and we know what she wants us to do.

"It's now going and showing that on Sunday and then the rest of the season going forward and improving ourselves.

"We've got a good enough squad to go and show ourselves.

"With the new players that have come in, they've fit in well, and they're doing well in training and in the pre-season games.

"We trust everyone that we bring into the squad. We trust Joel and the staff to bring in players that they know are going to come in and do a job for the club.

"So, at the end of the day, we just now need to go and show that, and it might take time, but we're going to get there, and we're going to do well."

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New Hearts captain Lauren Wade says she is honoured to be named the side's skipper but is fully focused on mounting a challenge to retain their SWPL title.

Hearts won the league on the final day of last season but have lost several key players, and their manager, Eva Olid, has since left the club too, joining Manchester United as their new manager.

Wade wishes the departed squad members well but says the current crop will be putting pressure on themselves to go out and win back-to-back championships.

"It's a proud moment and an absolute honour to be captain of this club, it has been amazing so far," she said.

"I do see myself as quite vocal on the pitch and in training off the pitch, but in the squad we have a lot of leaders who can lead in their own little ways, and that's where we are very blessed.

"We have to look forward to the new season, new players coming in, getting to know them and getting to know our new staff and coaches, manager Andy, and it's been great so far.

"Naturally, after the success of winning the league, it gives you the taste for wanting more, that's only natural. The pressure comes from yourself.

"I think we know we have a younger team this year and we're relishing the potential we have within our squad."

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Glasgow City aim to learn from last season's mistakes as they look to challenge for the SWPL title, says co-captain Amy Muir.

City were victorious in the Sky Sports Cup, beating Rangers 2-1 in the final, and were five points clear at the end of February 2026 when the league split - only to finish third.

"Obviously, off the back of last year, a bit of disappointment for us in terms of how the league campaign finished," said the Scotland defender.

"Winning the Sky Sports Cup was a real positive for us and having a good run in Europe as well but, I think in terms of coming into this new season, it's about bedding in the new players that we've got.

"A few changes there, but in terms of what we're aiming for this year, it's very much silverware again and competing at the top.

"We've got a taste of silverware and you know how good that feels, so we want to repeat that again."

City are by far the most successful club of the SWPL era with 16 titles, but last finished in top spot in 2023.

"Last year, we felt we dipped at a key moment, so, I think it's about learning from that and using the experience and trying to come out better for it," added Muir.

"A good start to the season is important.

"We want to compete in every competition that we're in. I think that's what Glasgow City is about."

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Celtic have signed 19-year-old striker Isabella Fisher on a two-year deal following the expiration of her contract at Burnley.

Fisher progressed through the ranks at Arsenal's academy and has spent time with Ipswich Town, Watford and Burnley and the forward has also earned 19 caps for England under-17s in the last three years, scoring eight goals in that time.

The forward also netted her first goal for Celtic in Sunday's 1-0 pre-season friendly win over Durham.

"Issy is an exciting young striker who's shown she can find where the back of the net is," head coach Grant Scott told club media of the striker's arrival.

"She will bring pace and an added edge to our forward line, we are delighted she has chosen to join Celtic as the next steps in her career."

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Scotland midfielder Chloe Arthur has rejoined first club Celtic following her exit from WSL side Crystal Palace.

Arthur, who has 35 caps for her country, spent four years at Palace and helped them return to the English top flight last season.

Prior to her four-year spell in London, she played for Aston Villa, rivals Birmingham City and Bristol City.

The 31-year-old started her career at Celtic in 2011 and left to join Hibernian three years later.

Arthur said: "It's kind of like a full circle moment for me. Obviously, I grew up here in the academy. I went away for just over 10 years.

"But to come back and there's familiar faces, the players, the staff, obviously back at the training ground and it's where I grew up."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers head coach Leanne Crichton has been speaking to the media before her side face Ajax in their Women's Champions League qualifier on Saturday.

Here are the main points:

• Crichton concedes taking on the Dutch side will be a "huge test" as they seek to reach the play-off round.

• Rangers reached the final of the mini-tournament they are hosting by coming from behind to defeat Slavia Prague late on midweek. The head coach believes that comeback proves they are equipped to take on teams at this level and they will "back ourselves", though squad absences make it a harder task.

• Crichton added a win of that nature helps with team bonding, given the number of new faces, saying "nothing bonds a group of players any better than winning games of football".

• She added "the way we handled the game was super impressive for this stage of the season" and they need to try and maintain that against Ajax.

• The former Scotland midfielder admitted the fallback of a Europa Cup qualifying place does take an element of pressure off, although remaining in the Champions League is the priority.

• Crichton also said making European football a mainstay is how to move the club forward and add to their ability to recruit "in a different type of market" with the aim of becoming "a force in European football".

• She expects a "tough game" against Ajax, who have made some "real strong key additions to their team" with a squad that is able to handle the quick turnaround in games. Given that, Crichton plans to add "freshness" to her team.