Coventry United confirm departures of Wilkinson and Hartley | OneFootball

Coventry United have announced the news that star forward Katie Wilkinson and defender Naomi Hartley have left the club.

The pair have spent one season at the Butts Park Arena, helping The Red and Greens to avoid relegation on the final day of the season despite the 10-point deduction issued to them following their former owners’ decision to file for liquidation.

Forward Wilkinson was an ever-present for the Warwickshire club in last season’s Barclays Women’s Championship. She scored an impressive seven goals despite Coventry United’s battles in and around the bottom of the table.

Centre-back Hartley was fielded on 13 occasions by Coventry United in the Barclays Women’s Championship. She was involved in the club’s unbeaten run at the end of the season which ultimately secured their survival in the elite game.

The departures of both players come as no surprise. Coventry United reverted to a part-time business model from 1 July meaning that some players would be moving on for the next chapters of their careers. Both Wilkinson and Hartley would be solid signings for other clubs in the Barclays Women’s Championship. In the case of Wilkinson, given her excellent goalscoring record in the second tier, she is very much a luxury player for clubs at that level.