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Emma Hayes helped transform women's football in this country... but after her exit from Chelsea, it has to move on without her, writes KATHRYN BATTE

Related Topics: Emma Hayes, Marc Skinner, Carla Ward

For the last 12 years Emma Hayes has been the face of women’s football in this country.

She has driven the game forward, pushed for higher standards, better facilities and more coverage.

Being the unofficial spokesperson for women’s football was not part of Hayes’ contract when she joined Chelsea in 2012. But it is a role she has performed and a burden she has carried largely on her own. Unlike Premier League managers who may also face difficult questions not related to matches or football, there are multiple people with big profiles to carry the load.