Aston Villa women’s team are ‘concerned’ about playing in ‘wet-look’ Castore shirts this weekend, confirms manager Carla Ward – who pays tribute to her ‘exceptional’ former player Maddy Cusack after her death

• Villa are looking for immediate short-term options for the ‘sweaty’ Castore kits 
• BBC commentator Jacqui Oatley shared that the team were dreading clingy shirt
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Carla Ward admitted her Aston Villa women players were ‘concerned’ about having to play in their ‘wet-look’ Castore shirts ahead of their opening game of the Women’s Super League season.

Players from both the men and women’s team complained to the kit manufacturer over the design of the shirts, claiming the heavy material increases their sweat levels and weighs them down in matches.

Ward’s side host Manchester United live on BBC Two on Sunday and players are understood to be ‘dreading’ how they will look in the ‘clingy’ tops.

The club restricted questions on the topic at Ward’s Friday morning press conference, with only one broadcaster permitted to ask about the situation.

‘[They have] similar concerns to what the men have,’ Ward said.

Carla Ward has praised Aston Villa for their response to issues with their Castore kit this term

A source close to one player on the men’s team claimed wearing the shirt felt like ‘jumping in a swimming pool’

Villa’s women’s side are thought to have worn their training kit for a recent pre-season friendly

‘It was highlighted early in the pe-season on the men’s side and backed up by the women’s. As far as I’m concerned it’s over to the club and Castore to deal with.

‘Certainly my focus has to be the weekend. My focus is making sure the players are focused on the weekend. The one thing I will say is the club have been absolutely superb in these last few days with constant communication of “how can we help the players? What will make them feel better?”

‘There’s a genuine care from the football club so from my point of view, the players feel that, we feel that. Our focus solely now is on Manchester United.’

Ward had to take a brief break during her press conference on Friday morning after she was asked about her former player Maddy Cusack, who passed away last week.

Ward worked with Cusack at Sheffield United and explained she was very close to the midfielder.

‘I signed Maddy [for Sheffield United], Maddy was a player of mine for four years and I had an unbelievable relationship with her.

Ward also had to take a brief pause whilst discussing her former player and friend Maddy Cusack, who passed away last week at the age of 27 

‘When I got the call from Sheff United on Thursday morning it was tough, very tough. I think everybody who knew Maddy knew what an exceptional human being she was, what a character she was.

‘I had a very close relationship with her and I only spoke to her a couple of weeks ago so it’s tough.

‘The FA need to do more in terms of support to players. It’s not part of the licence and I think it needs to be. It’s something that players ask for all the time. It’s something that staff ask for all the time. It’s not taken seriously enough but that’s another conversation.’

The FA has been approached for comment.

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