Sunderland AFC Women Appoint Rehanne Skinner as Technical Director

Sunderland, UK, June 29, 2026 – Sunderland AFC Women is delighted to announce the appointment of Rehanne Skinner as Technical Director. Skinner joins Sunderland AFC Women with one of the most distinguished and varied backgrounds in the women’s game. Her appointment reflects the Club’s ambition to build sustainable foundations for long-term success both on and off the pitch.

Skinner will lead all sporting and football operations across Sunderland AFC Women, providing strategic and technical leadership to deliver long-term success. She will be responsible for defining and executing the Club’s football vision, overseeing recruitment, aligning the first team and academy pathway, and creating a high-performance environment across all football functions. Working closely with Bay Collective leadership, she will bring the Club’s football vision to life while drawing on the collective knowledge, expertise and resources that a connected global platform uniquely provides.

Skinner brings extensive experience from every level of the women’s game. Her career has included roles as an international coach, assistant coach with the Lionesses, head coach in the Barclays Women’s Super League, and she was a key architect in building Leicester City Women into a competitive professional club.

Speaking on her appointment, Skinner said, “I’m incredibly excited to play a part in the next phase of this remarkable football club. Sunderland AFC Women is an institution with a proud history, passionate supporters, and enormous potential.

“I believe strongly in the project and the vision for the future and am thrilled to work alongside Kay and the Bay Collective team to build the structures, foundations and environment that will enable the Club to get back to where it belongs and create sustained success for years to come.

“The North-East has consistently produced some of the very best talent in women’s football. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with many players who have come from this region, and the talent pool here has historically been unrivalled. There is a huge opportunity to harness that talent and help bring back the glory days for Sunderland AFC Women.

“This appointment is also personally meaningful. My mum comes from the North-East, so there is a strong connection to the region that makes this opportunity even more special.”

Kay Cossington, MBE, Chief Executive Officer of Bay Collective, welcomed Skinner’s arrival, adding, “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Rehanne to Sunderland AFC Women. She brings over 25 years of expertise from the very highest levels of the women’s game across professional and international environments, a deep understanding of what it takes to build performance environments that last, and a full alignment with how we believe this club should be built: sustainably, with the right foundations, and with real ambition for the future.

“To have someone of her calibre not only sharing that vision but ready to lead it on the ground is incredibly exciting, and I cannot wait to see what we build together here at Sunderland.”

Skinner’s appointment reinforces Sunderland AFC Women’s commitment to establishing the structures, leadership and long-term vision required to compete at the highest level and build a sustainable future for the Club.

About Sunderland AFC Women

Sunderland AFC Women is a professional women’s football Club proudly rooted in one of English football’s most historic institutions, founded in 1879. Based in the North-East of England, a longstanding cradle of women’s football talent, the Club has a proud history of developing players who have gone on to represent England on the global stage. Built on a clear footballing identity, a strong Academy, and a deep connection to its community, the Club is committed to sustainable growth and long-term success. Sunderland AFC Women is a member Club of Bay Collective, the global women’s football multi-club ownership platform backed by Sixth Street. Learn more at www.safc.com/women and follow the Lasses on social channels (@SAFCWomen).

About Bay Collective

Bay Collective is a multi-club ownership platform focused on building women’s football clubs that win on the pitch, thrive off it, and set new standards for the sport worldwide. Launched in 2025 and backed by Sixth Street’s global platform, Bay Collective’s ambition isn’t incremental; it’s transformational – for athletes, staff, and the communities that support them. Led by Kay Cossington, MBE, Bay Collective’s belief in the women’s game comes from lived experience, bringing a deep understanding of its talent, momentum, and the dedicated effort required to scale it sustainably. Clubs join a collective that protects their identity, amplifies their strengths, and connects them to world-class infrastructure and expertise. Bay Collective’s mission is to nurture excellence and prove that women’s football can be both culturally powerful and commercially robust at a global level. Learn more at www.baycollective.com and follow Bay Collective on LinkedIn.