• Redfearn exits after three months and two matches in charge • Liverpool lost 5-0 to Arsenal in WSL opener last weekend

Chris Kirkland has taken caretaker charge of Liverpool Women following the shock resignation of their head coach, Neil Redfearn, after only three months and two competitive matches in charge.

Despite a shaky start to the season and certain behind-the-scenes tensions, the decision is said to have stunned the club. The 53-year-old informed Liverpool of his decision on Thursday night and the players, most of whom were signed by Redfearn this summer, were told at training on Friday.

Following a narrow cup defeat by Manchester United’s newly formed side, Liverpool lost 5-0 to Arsenal in their Women’s Super League opener last weekend.

Redfearn managed Leeds United and Rotherham United prior to being appointed head coach at Doncaster Rovers Belles in December 2017 and winning the second-tier title.

He was named as Liverpool’s manager, replacing Scott Rogers, in June but during the close season 12 senior players departed, many for Manchester United, managed by the former Liverpool and England defender Casey Stoney.

This exodus seemed a legacy of unhappiness under Rogers last season and, crucially, led to the captain, Gemma Bonner, departing for Manchester City, the defender Sophie Ingle to Chelsea and the England left-back Alex Greenwood to United. It left Redfearn to sign virtually an entire new team, with several players arriving from the second tier.

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Kirkland, a former England international whose daughter is in Liverpool’s centre of excellence, was appointed the club’s goalkeeping coach in July and will take temporary charge, alongside Vicky Jepson, the assistant manager. Liverpool face Durham in the Continental Tyres Cup on Sunday.

Only last weekend Redfearn scouted Durham and, in a series of interviews, he had been consistently positive about the job. He accepted the post in the hope he would be furnished with the resources and backing to compete with Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table. It is believed he had become increasingly disillusioned about what he perceived as Liverpool’s commitment to achieving this aim.

A club statement on Friday read: “The club would like to thank Neil for his work in rebuilding the squad ahead of the 2018-19 season and wish him the best of luck for the future.”