CHRIS SUTTON and IAN LADYMAN clash over whether England women’s coach Sarina Wiegman should be paid the same salary as Gareth Southgate on Mail Sport’s ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ podcast.

Chris Sutton has argued that Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman’s salary should be much closer to that of her male colleague Gareth Southgate.

Wiegman led England to Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final, where they suffered an agonizing 1-0 loss to Spain.

The defeat was only her second in 39 games as coach of the Lionesses, who also won the European Championship under her last summer.

As Ian Ladyman explains on Mail Sport’s new podcast It’s All Kicking Off, Wiegman is paid around £400,000 a year for her role, while England men’s coach Gareth Southgate’s salary is around £5million a year.

Sutton felt the two managers should be paid equally as they in fact fill the same role, while Ladyman argued that given the additional responsibilities at Southgate there was some justification for a pay gap.

Chris Sutton and Ian Ladyman argued over whether Sarina Wiegman should be paid the same salary as Gareth Southgate

Wiegman is paid around £4.6million less than her male counterpart despite winning the EURO with England and leading them to the World Cup final

“Sarina Wiegman is doing a brilliant coaching job, Gareth Southgate’s job is much more than just coaching,” said Ladyman, “he’s a figurehead for the FA.” When Gareth Southgate speaks, his words are heard around the world and across Europe.

“You are paid to carry that responsibility, and due to the nature of the modern world, Gareth’s responsibility is greater and more inclusive.”

Sutton hit back, replying: “But that’s no basis why anyone should be paid that much and someone else shouldn’t.” I think Sarina Wiegman shares that responsibility with Gareth Southgate.

“It shouldn’t work that Gareth Southgate should be paid £4.6m more because he’s taking more anger from fans, which is essentially what you’re saying.”

“They’re essentially saying there’s a difference in the jobs, but there’s absolutely not.”

Ladyman acknowledged that the pay gap between the two executives was “too big” and pointed out that given the interest from the US, Wiegman is likely to negotiate a new contract that could potentially give her a significant pay rise.

England were beaten 1-0 by an impressive Spanish side in Sunday’s World Cup final

Wiegman also led the Lionesses to the European Championship last year and has lost just two of 39 games as coach

He went on to ask why fans and pundits are so fond of making a comparison between the men’s and women’s games, adding: “I still don’t understand why that comparison is necessary, it doesn’t happen in cricket.” That’s what happens in golf not.

“What we need to do for women’s football, I think, is we need to enjoy it and appreciate it, we need to enable it, because the participation rates need to be higher across the county, there needs to be more opportunities.”

“We have to fund it, we have to watch it because I think some attendances in the WSL are still not as high as they could be. We’ve got to do all those things and then just let it be and let it grow into what it’s going to be.

“It’s already gone to the moon without anyone else interfering, let it be.”

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, youtube, apple music And Spotify