Ward leaves Solihull to take up Dubai Irish role

Solihull Moors Director of Football Stephen Ward has left the club to become the new Head of Football Development at Dubai Irish FC.

Ward had worked at the National League club for two seasons, in the first of which they were a penalty shootout away from reaching the Football League for the first time.

In his playing career, he made more than 500 senior appearances for Bohemians, Wolves, Brighton and Hove Albion, Burnley, Stoke City, Ipswich Town and Walsall, while also winning 50 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

Writing on LinkedIn, Ward said he had “loved every minute” of his time at Solihull – calling it “a very special place to work”.

He is the second coach to move from the West Midlands to Dubai Irish this month, after former Wolves’ Head of Player Development Darren Ryan joined the club as Head of Youth Development.

Ward will work on developing Dubai Irish’s football operations from Academy to senior level.