The Football Association (FA) has banned the former women’s fourth division team for 12 years after she was found guilty of sending indecent images of herself to players and staff.
Ryan Hamilton sent explicit images of his penis to players and staff via social media during his time as Sutton Coldfield Town women’s manager. He also shared naked or semi-naked photos of himself with two other players and sent a video of himself performing sexual acts to another player.
Despite denying 24 FA charges of misconduct relating to his time at the Birmingham-based club, the Independent Regulatory Commission found him guilty of 23 charges.
Four players and one staff member gave evidence to the FA, including instances in which Hamilton attempted to instigate sexual activity between May 2022 and November 2024.
“Women should be able to take part in football without being subjected to the kind of behavior shown towards them by Mr Hamilton,” the FA Regulation Committee’s written judgment said.
She added: “Women’s football is thriving and for it to continue to thrive, we need to send a clear message that misconduct of the type committed by Ms Hamilton will not be tolerated and will result in the harshest consequences.”
The commission said that while one of the victims appeared to believe he was to blame, the four players involved were “afraid of the consequences of making a complaint and the impact it would have on their chances of being selected” and that “worst of all, some of them felt that somehow it might have been their fault.”
The commission said Hamilton’s conduct “undoubtedly” would have continued had one of the players not raised concerns.
Hamilton, who resigned as Sutton Coldfield Women’s manager in November 2024, attended a press conference arranged by the FA and addressed the allegations made by two players. However, after receiving a phone call, he abruptly ended the interview.
He subsequently failed to renegotiate with the FA and did not reschedule his interview. Hamilton was asked to provide documents from his cell phone, but he did not respond.
The committee found that he made “only minimal denials” about three of his accusers, and noted that “he has shown no introspection, contrition or remorse.”
“The closest he comes to saying he’s ‘not proud’ of his actions.”
The complainant’s identity was redacted from the commission’s report ahead of Friday’s publication. The FA confirmed it had nothing to add beyond this ruling.
