Fran Kirby describes disruption caused by Vidosic departure from Brighton

Fran Kirby has described the disruption caused by Dario Vidosic's abrupt departure from Brighton, saying the coaching change left her stressed and disappointed shortly before the Women's Super League season began. Speaking to the Women's Football Weekly podcast, in comments reported by BBC Sport, the former England striker said she had built a strong relationship with Vidosic.

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Vidosic left on 28 August, nine days before Brighton's opening league match against Arsenal. Arturo Ruiz arrived from Real Sociedad as his replacement that same day. Kirby said the team had not yet had a session with the new coach when she was processing the departure, with the Arsenal fixture already approaching. She praised Vidosic's coaching ability and said the timing made the transition difficult.

Brighton lost to Arsenal and failed to win any of their first four league games under Ruiz. Their first WSL victory of the campaign came before the international break, when they beat promoted Charlton 5-1. They also recorded two League Cup wins. Kirby acknowledged the difficult start, explaining that players had been required to absorb a different approach with little time before competitive matches began.

The change followed a period of notable achievements under Vidosic. He took Brighton to their first FA Cup final earlier this year and oversaw fifth- and seventh-place WSL finishes, with fifth representing a club record. Kirby, who won seven WSL titles with Chelsea, joined Brighton in July 2024, six days before Vidosic's appointment. BBC Sport reported that she has contributed 10 league goals and six assists for Brighton.

Kirby said the team still wanted to retain possession under Ruiz but was being encouraged to threaten opponents more quickly. She acknowledged that Brighton had sometimes continued passing when opportunities existed to move forward under the previous approach. Changing those habits was difficult, she said, while emphasising her willingness to follow clear instructions and her confidence in the group.

Ruiz told BBC Sport he was pleased with the performances and work being done, although he believed Brighton could have collected more points. The 29-year-old said the limited preparation time had complicated efforts to establish a clear playing identity. Before moving to Brighton, he led Real Sociedad to third place in Liga F and Champions League qualification.