Birmingham City Women: Three exits confirmed as Amy Merricks gives final message

The latest from Birmingham City Women after they agonisingly missed out on promotion to the Super League

The fall-out from Birmingham City Women’s agonising final day has started this week with three players leaving the club at the end of their contracts.

Striker Libby Smith, defender Ellie Mason and teenage forward Louanne Worsey have all confirmed their departures.

Smith, 24, has spent the past four seasons at Blues but was a bit-part player under Amy Merricks in 2024/25.

Revealing her departure on social media, Smith said: “After four years as a Blue, my time at the club has come to an end.

“Firstly I’m gutted that we couldn’t get over the line on Sunday. Birmingham gave me my WSL debut, so after relegation I felt it was my personal mission to get the club back to where it belongs. Falling short of that hurts.

“I’d like to say thank you to the fans who have continually supported me during my time here, you’ve been with us through it all and it definitely hasn’t always been pretty!

“I’ve worked with some real good people and made friends for life, for that I will always be grateful for. You’ve made the highs feel even more special and the lows a little less painful.

“I’m excited and motivated for what my next chapter will bring but for now it’s goodbye.”

Award nominations

On the same day Mason announced that she is leaving Blues, the left-back was nominated for the Women’s Championship Player of the Year. Mason is up for the award alongside Blues teammates Shannon Cooke, Simone Magill and Lucy Quinn.

Mason and Cooke are also up for the Goal of the Season award for their respective strikes against Portsmouth and Sheffield United.

Cooke’s cracker against Sheffield United won the Goal of the Season award at Blues’ in-house celebration on Sunday evening.

Farewell to Louise Quinn

Blues waved goodbye to club captain Louise Quinn last weekend. Quinn has called time on her playing career and she was recognised at the end-of-season awards dinner alongside men’s player Lukas Jutkiewicz who has also retired.

Head coach Merricks has paid tribute to the outgoing defender. Merricks said: “What a stalwart – incredible player, incredible person. I’m sure whatever she does next, she will go on and be amazing. We’ll keep her around as much as we can, I assure you of that.”

What next?

There will inevitably be a rebuild after another season in which Blues fell short of their promotion goal.

In two of the last three seasons Blues have missed out on promotion by two points or less.

Merricks, along with technical director Hope Powell, will look to go one better next time around and finally secure the club’s return to the Women’s Super League.

Relaying her final message to the players after their agonising final day draw with London City Lionesses, Merricks said: “I’m proud of them and next year we will do this far before we get to this point. We will push on and be far better than we have been this year.

“We do not stop here. This is the start of the journey under this ownership and we’ve made incredible progress. I know we’ll be back stronger and better.”