Casey Stoney tipped to shine should she become Manchester United Women's coach

United are expected to be announced as members of the inaugural FA Women’s Championship – the second tier of a restructured league system – in the week ahead

The 36-year-old is a former England captain (Getty)

Casey Stoney has been backed to be an “amazing” manager of Manchester United’s new women’s team as reports suggest she is close to landing the job.

United are expected to be announced as members of the inaugural FA Women’s Championship – the second tier of a restructured league system – in the week ahead.

The club have been interviewing for a first-team boss and 36-year-old former England captain Stoney appears poised to step into the role.

She is set to be confirmed in the post, the Daily Mail and BBC reported, which is likely to mean Stoney leaving her role as assistant to England Women manager Phil Neville.

Neville’s sister, England netball coach Tracey Neville, backed Stoney to be a big hit as a first-time manager.

She wrote on Twitter: “Congratulations CaseyStoney you will do an amazing job. What a good choice of club as well.”

Phil Neville and brother Gary were mainstays of the United men’s side during the peak years of the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Stoney retired from playing in February after a career in which she won 130 England caps and a host of club honours, leaving Liverpool Ladies to join the new-look Lionesses coaching staff.

Until announcing in March that they planned to launch a side, United had faced criticism for being the only Premier League club without a senior women’s team.

Sports minister Tracey Crouch said United had “finally dragged themselves into the 21st century” by taking that decision.

PA