Rovers have announced that Ladies manager Gemma Donnelly has left the club after nine years in charge.

The club and Donnelly, whose role was head of women’s and girls elite football, have mutually parted ways with immediate effect.

While Donnelly has been permanent manager of the Ladies side since July 2014, she has been with the club since 2007, first overseeing Rovers’ Centre of Excellence and the development of stars such as Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone who have since become household names at international level.

The club statement says Donnelly has left to ‘pursue other opportunities’ after 16 years with Rovers.

She has been absent from the touchline in recent weeks, with Rovers second bottom of the Women’s Championship after the weekend draw with Durham.

A club statement read: “Blackburn Rovers wish to announce that Gemma Donnelly, Head of Women’s & Girls Elite Football, has mutually parted ways with the club with immediate effect.

“The long-serving Rovers manager first joined the club in April 2007, overseeing Rovers’ Centre of Excellence, which produced a host of top internationals, including current England stars Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone, who lifted the Euros with the Lionesses last summer.

“In November 2013, she became Rovers Ladies’ interim manager, before being promoted to the role on a permanent basis in July 2014.

“Under her stewardship, Rovers Ladies have enjoyed success over the past decade, winning the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division title three years in succession, the Championship play-off final in 2019, the Premier League Cup two years in a row and lifting the Lancashire FA Challenge Cup on five occasions.

“Donnelly, who won the coveted FA Women's Manager of the Year Award in 2019, has now decided to step away from her role at Rovers to pursue other opportunities.

“Rovers would like to place on record its thanks to Gemma for her service to the club over the past 16 years and we wish her well in her future career.”