Danske Bank Women’s Premiership side Sion Swifts Ladies have named Ryan McConville as their new head coach.
McConville is most well known in local football circles for leading Linfield Ladies to their first league title in 2016, starting a run of four titles in a row for the Blues.
Having started out coaching in women’s football at Armagh City and then Loughgall, McConville was most recently head coach at Scottish side Forfar Farmington - where he signed stars from Northern Ireland such as goalkeeper Lauren Perry from Linfield and defender Billie Simpson from Cliftonville.
His remarkable career in football has also spanned stints in China, Russia, South Africa, USA and Mexico.
McConville joins the Strabane-based club who have endured a difficult start to the campaign, picking up just one point from their opening six matches.
Long-term Sion boss Tony McGinley stepped back from his role at the start of the season as Paul McLaughlin came in as first-team coach, but McGinley remains involved at the club.
McConville has said: "I am absolutely delighted to be given the opportunity to join Sion - it was a challenge and opportunity I could not refuse.
"I hope I can use my experience to work alongside the management team to help this squad climb the league table.
"I have missed elite football since my departure from Forfar and I can't wait to team up with what I believe is a young talented squad."
McConville was previously Academy Coach at Russian club FC Strogino, Technical Director at Waterstone College in South Africa (where he won the Soweto League title and other trophies) while he was also Head Coach at Louisana-based side Lady Rafters.
