Doncaster Rovers Belles appointed Sammie Coates as their new manager yesterday, making her the club’s latest success story for their female mentoring scheme.

Director of football Julie Chipchase designed the scheme which develops first-class female managers and coaches to work successfully in the top tier of women’s football.

She said: “It is fantastic for the club that Emma accepted the role of manager, having worked with Emma over the last few years through the club’s mentoring scheme, it is great to see how much she has developed and now the time is right to offer this opportunity in leading the team within the top tier of women’s football.”

Coates replaces Glen Harris, who was sacked on Sunday with the Belles bottom of the Women’s Super League following promotion last season.

Coates, previously the Belles’ assistant first team coach, said: “I am delighted to have been given the chance to take charge of a team with such a great history in the women’s game.

“The club have supported me throughout my development and I’m looking forward to leading the team forward. We now have to focus on developing some momentum for the second half of the season.”

It has been a difficult season for the club, losing all three games so far this season — though two of the games have been against league pace-setters Chelsea and Manchester City.

And a trip to sixth-placed Notts County on Sunday will be a difficult test for the Belles, who are at least two games behind the rest of the league.

But chair Faye Lygo believes Coates is the right coach to take the team forward in the long-term.

She said: “Emma has been a central figure in the coaching team at the Belles and is an obvious next choice for us. She is well liked and respected by all at the club.

“She has a proven record with developing individual players, bringing through younger players and incorporating modern techniques in football coaching, with a proactive and intelligent approach.

“We are delighted she has accepted this long-term appointment to lead the club.”

Coates becomes just the third woman to manage in the WSL One, after Chelsea’s Emma Hayes and Reading’s Kelly Chambers.