WARRINGTON Wolves appear to be at something of a crossroads when it comes to their women’s team.

After a difficult 2024 season that saw them win just three times and finish second-bottom of the Women’s Super League table, they are now looking for a new head coach after Armani Sharrock stood down from her role.

And in her first comments since her resignation, she outlined exactly why she had come to her decision.

“I think it is the right decision for both parties,” she said.

“I’ve looked up what the road map is for the future and I’m not saying it won’t work, it just doesn’t align with the aspirations I had for the playing group.

“With a little bit more tangible investment this year, I think we could have aspired for more than that road map will allow.

“In terms of trying to close the gap on the top four and trying to become more competitive my worry is how detrimental this might be to the team, the players and the club in general.

“You have to look at the teams around us and at Leigh who just got promoted to Super League. They are offering a lot more tangible things to their girls – private medical care for example or being paid to play.

“I’m not saying that’s the right route to go down if you haven’t got the infrastructure behind it but sometimes the girls will see other teams playing at a stadium week in, week out, appearing on all the social media graphics and their pictures being shown in the kit.

“I think sometimes those things get overlooked as being important but when the clubs around you are doing it, it then gives our girls the impression that these things are unattainable and that’s not what I want.”

Sharrock, 29, took over as head coach from Lee Westwood last October and enjoyed a decent start to the season, qualifying for the quarter finals of the Challenge Cup.

But injuries, absences and players leaving eventually took their toll on a young team that suffered heavy defeats to Wigan, St Helens and Huddersfield as the season drew to a close.

Sharrock, who played for the Wire before taking over as head coach, said: “When I came in, we only had 12 or 13 players left from the previous season.

“We had to rebuild the squad and the coaching team and it will sound like a really small achievement, but the fact we managed to field a team at certain times of the year is massive.

Some people might not actually understand how much goes into this as we have girls who work full-time, they have schedules and lives that dictate they’re not available every weekend.

“We had 22 players make their debut this year and some of those were simply out of the necessity of getting a team out.

“But we have remained in Super League and given have the club the best chance of going forward next year.”

And with pre-season fast approaching, Sharrock had a message for her – as yet unappointed – successor.

She said: “I came into the role with so much excitement and I really hope whoever comes in has that same excitement.

“They have to buy into the women’s game and treat them as a women’s team. I think that bit is sometimes the hardest – people get lost in the fact that coaching women is a completely different environment.

“Fully embrace the role and keep driving forward because we did make a lot of positive changes this year. Make sure you believe in it and stick to the non-negotiables.”

As for her future in the game, Sharrock is a little unsure what that might hold for now.

She said: “I very much wanted to continue with the group and wish the girls well, but I have my principles and my aspirations, and they don’t align with the club.

“That’s not a negative on either party, it’s just people will choose to go in different directions and the right thing is for the club to take that forward and not me.

“I’m just going to see what opportunities come in the next few weeks. I still want to coach – it’s been a part of my life for the past 14 years and I’m not done yet.”

A spokesperson for the Warrington Wolves Foundation said: “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Armani for her incredible dedication to the club as a player and as our women’s head coach.

“While this season has had its challenges, the team has gained invaluable experience that will strengthen them moving forward.

“Armani’s leadership and passion for the team have been instrumental and we are confident that the lessons learned this year will drive the team into next season stronger than ever.

“We wish Armani the very best in her future endeavours and hope to see her in the stands cheering on the girls next season.”