Latest news with #WSL2
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WSL in advanced talks over historic deal for all players in top two tiers to join PFA
The Women's Super League is in advanced discussions with the Professional Footballers' Association over providing a funding deal that would enable all players in the top two divisions to join the union for the first time. Under the existing arrangements the PFA does not receive any financial backing for the women's game, with players in the WSL 2 – previously the Championship – unable to use its services, leaving many without access to healthcare and medical insurance despite being paid pro rata salaries far below the national minimum wage. Advertisement Related: Mary Earps stuns England teammates by retiring from international football Talks between WSL Football and the PFA are understood to have accelerated after Blackburn's decision this month to withdraw from WSL 2 – as first revealed by the Guardian – which has left their players feeling anxious and angry. The Guardian has been told many of them were paid as little as £11,000 a year by Blackburn as they were employed on part-time contracts with the PFA stepping in to provide financial assistance despite not having any formal obligation to do so. The PFA has approximately 250 female members, with some of the funding the union receives from the Premier League, English Football League and Football Association diverted to provide them with some basic services. Players in the WSL 2 have been ineligible to join the PFA, however, as the union lacks the resources to support them. WSL Football, the company responsible for running the top two tiers of the women's game, is understood to have reached an agreement in principle with the PFA to provide a funding package that is expected to be signed in the next few weeks. Both parties are confident that all WSL 2 players will be PFA members by the start of next season, the first in which all clubs in the top two divisions will be fully professional. Advertisement The Premier League pays around £25m a year to fund the PFA, which has more than 5,000 male members, and the WSL deal will be far smaller. However, as well as expanding the membership the PFA will use the money to offer female-specific services for the first time, particularly in areas such as rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and medical research. Funding comprehensive union representation for players in both tiers was one of the key recommendations of the Raising the Bar Review, the government-commissioned independent review of women's football chaired by Karen Carney, which was published in 2023. The Carney Review also called for an improvement in the minimum standards criteria demanded by the WSL of all clubs in the top two divisions, including increased training time, the introduction of a minimum salary and the provision of a 'gold standard' in physical and mental health services to all players. WSL Football has moved to implement these higher minimum standards from next season, although the increased costs involved have proved too much for some clubs, with Blackburn deciding to withdraw from WSL 2. While a source at one WSL 2 club said the new standards 'are not particularly onerous', and most clubs at that level budget for losses of between £750,000 and £1m each year. Blackburn's owner, Venkys London Ltd, decided the cost was too high 12 months after Reading also withdrew from the second tier on financial grounds. Wolves also angered their players by not formally applying for promotion from the third tier. Advertisement Blackburn's departure leaves the WSL one club short for next season at the moment but the National League North side Burnley announced last week that they will be going fully professional next season and that they have applied to replace their Lancashire neighbours. Another option would be for the bottom club, Sheffield United, to be spared relegation despite winning only one Championship match last season. The club committed to staying full-time with fully professional players after relegation and plan to play all their home games at Bramall Lane regardless of which division they are in. While WSL Football will make recommendations the final decision rests with the FA Board, which in the past has opted to give clubs reprieves from relegation. Lewes were given the option to stay in the second tier following Reading's late withdrawal last summer, but had already released players and gone part-time following relegation so the Championship was reduced to 11 clubs. WSL Football and the PFA declined to comment.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Player anger as Blackburn likely to withdraw from WSL 2 due to financial reasons
Blackburn's place in the Women's Super League 2 next season is in major doubt after their players were informed on Tuesday morning that the club is highly unlikely to provide the funding to meet the division's new minimum licence requirement. No decision has yet been made by the club for next season but the Blackburn defender Niamh Murphy wrote on X that the players had been warned the club's mind was already '99%' made up. Multiple sources have told the Guardian that the club have been given a deadline to confirm by next week whether or not they wish to participate, or face demotion. Related: Hemp, Greenwood and Stanway back in major Euros boost for England The situation is understood to have left the players and staff anxious, angry and feeling like they are in a state of limbo, while they await a formal decision. Some of the squad have posted their concerns on social media, with the Scotland youth international Murphy writing: 'We, Blackburn Rovers women's first team, were made aware there is a 99% chance that the club's owners won't be financially supporting the team next season. 'Us players and staff deserve far better than what we've experienced in recent seasons. We've once again been left in the dark, waiting to see if the owners will have the decency to do what's best for their players, staff and women's football.' Simon Parker's team finished 10th, second from bottom, in the women's second tier this term, five points clear of danger, despite operating on what was understood on a comparatively low playing budget. The second tier – which was known previously as the Women's Championship – was renamed on Monday as WSL 2. This summer, the minimum requirements to take part in the division are being increased in a bid to raise minimum standards for the players involved, to an extent whereby it is understood second-tier women's clubs will now have to essentially operate a full‑time, professional operation. The list of criteria is believed to include requirements for clubs to commit to appointing the following staff within one month of next season starting: a head of women's football, marketing manager, head coach, assistant coach, physiotherapist or sports therapist, doctor, a strength and conditioning coach, a goalkeeping coach and several people in specific safeguarding and player-welfare roles. Blackburn played all of their home women's matches at Ewood Park this season and their former players include the England internationals Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone and Keira Walsh and have a proud history of developing young players. The league will be keen to avoid a repeat of the situation last summer when Reading withdrew from the second tier at the end of June – for financial reasons – at such a relatively late point in the summer that there was deemed to be insufficient time before pre-season to begin a process of promoting a replacement club, which led to the division including only 11 teams this season. Related: Reading Women ask to leave Championship and aim to play in fifth tier A source told the Guardian that one reason Blackburn have been given a deadline of next week by which to make their decision is to avoid another 11th‑hour withdrawal and ensure there is time for a contingency plan, should Blackburn decide to pull out. The Blackburn goalkeeper Alex Brooks shared the same message posted on X by Murphy, which added: 'Whilst this season may have looked successful to others, we have once again avoided relegation despite having the smallest budget. This group has worked relentlessly hard all season for so little reward.' If they withdraw, Blackburn would not be the only club to decide not to fund a WSL 2 licence this summer, after third-tier Wolves did not submit a bid for promotion despite finishing second in their division. On Monday, the Wolves chairman, Jeff Shi, promised to apply next season instead.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blackburn forced to withdraw from WSL 2 on ‘sad day for women's football'
Blackburn Rovers have confirmed their withdrawal from the WSL 2 and will re-enter at least two tiers below, with the owners unwilling to provide the funding to meet the division's new minimum licence requirement. Players and staff were told on Tuesday afternoon of the decision. The Guardian revealed last week that the club were considering dropping out of the second tier and that the players had been left anxious, angry and feeling as if they were in a state of limbo awaiting a formal decision. Related: The sad demise of Fortuna Sittard Women: 'I hope the players find new clubs' It is understood that WSL Football, the governing body of the WSL and WSL 2, is working with the Professional Footballers' Association and Sporting Chance to support players and staff. In a statement posted on the club's website, Rovers said the decision had come after a 'comprehensive review of the evolving demands placed on second-tier clubs, which have become unsustainable under our current model'. The intention is still for the WSL 2 to operate with 12 teams next season, although any club joining the league will be required to meet the minimum standards. They are viewed as vital to the further professionalisation of the game as they protect the welfare of all participants and maintain competition integrity. Nikki Doucet, the WSL Football chief executive, said: 'This is a sad day for women's football and our hearts go out to the players, staff and fans at Blackburn Rovers FC Women affected by this decision to withdraw from the Women's Super League 2. We have been working with the club all season to prevent this outcome and we are disappointed it has come to this.' Operating on what was understood to be a comparatively low playing budget, Rovers finished 10th last season, second from bottom, in the women's second tier this term, five points clear of danger. The minimum requirements to take part in the renamed division (it was called the Championship in 2024-25) are being increased this summer in a bid to raise minimum standards for the players involved, with WSL 2 sides expected to essentially operate full‑time, professional teams. The list of criteria is believed to include requirements for clubs to commit to appointing a head of women's football, marketing manager, head coach, assistant coach, physiotherapist or sports therapist, doctor, a strength and conditioning coach, a goalkeeping coach and several people in specific safeguarding and player-welfare roles within one month of the new season kicking off. WSL Football said in a statement: 'In line with recommendations for the long-term future of women's football, every club is asked to comply with the minimum standards as part of their membership of the leagues and a compliance and development review is carried out as standard ahead of each season and monitored throughout.' Rovers said: 'The growing financial and operational constraints tied to Tier 2 status, including the requirement to move to a fully-professional model, have reached a point where they can no longer be sustained under the club's current financial framework. 'Key factors influencing this decision include the significant rise in minimum criteria set by the league, including extended contact hours for players and the requirement for a full-time professional contract model, an increase in staffing levels, leading to further escalating wage costs, and a greater strain on training ground and stadium facilities.' The club partly blamed the lack of a 'noticeable upturn in home attendances', despite playing all their league games at Ewood Park last season, and the lack of matchday commercial revenues and sponsorship as a result. Where Blackburn Rovers re-enter the pyramid is yet to be determined. An FA spokesperson said: 'We are in ongoing discussions with Blackburn regarding what level of the women's football pyramid they can enter for next season, and a decision will be confirmed in due course.'
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Blackburn WITHDRAW women's team from second tier over 'financial restraints' - as league chiefs label decision 'a sad day for football'
Blackburn Rovers have controversially opted to withdraw their women's team from the second tier, citing 'growing financial and operational restraints tied to Tier 2 status'. WSL Football, who have recently taken ownership of the top two divisions of the women's pyramid, said that Rovers were unable to meet the criteria needed to remain in WSL2 (formerly the Championship) before the deadline passed on Monday, May 19. In a statement outlining their decision-making process, Rovers said: 'Key factors influencing this decision include the significant rise in minimum criteria set by the league, including extended contact hours for players and the requirement for a full-time professional contract model, an increase in staffing levels, leading to further escalating wage costs, and a greater strain on training ground and stadium facilities.' Rovers finished the 2024-25 season in 10th, one place above relegated Sheffield United – who could be reinstated. It remains to be seen meanwhile which tier Rovers will drop down into. WSL Football CEO Nikki Doucet said: 'This is a sad day for women's football and our hearts go out to the players, staff and fans at Blackburn Rovers FC Women affected by this decision. 'We have been working with the club all season to prevent this outcome, and we are disappointed it has come to this. 'We will do all we can to help provide current players and staff members at the club opportunities so they can remain in the women's game. 'Women's football is on a journey, and whilst it remains in a financially fragile position, the game is growing and there will be brighter days ahead.'
RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Blackburn women withdraw from the Championship
Blackburn Rovers have announced the withdrawal of their women's team from next season's Women's Super League 2. The club cited the "growing financial and operational constraints" required from the league for the decision, adding that other factors were considered, including the need for a full-time professional model and an increase in staffing. Blackburn finished 10th in last season's Women's Championship and picked up 12 points from 20 outings to finish five points above bottom side Sheffield United. They're captained by Republic of Ireland midfielder Tyler Toland, who now looks certain to move on from the club in the next few weeks. A WSL Football statement said the withdrawal came after Blackburn confirmed they would be unable to meet the compliance requirements needed for WSL2 and revealed Rovers intend to apply to enter the women's football pyramid at a lower level. The statement also reaffirmed the intention for WSL2 to continue with 12 clubs next season, while CEO Nikki Doucet said they had been working with Blackburn to "prevent" the outcome. "This is a sad day for women's football and our hearts go out to the players, staff and fans at Blackburn Rovers FC Women affected by this decision to withdraw from the Barclays Women's Super League 2," Doucet said. "We have been working with the club all season to prevent this outcome, and we are disappointed it has come to this. "We will do all we can to help provide current players and staff members at the club opportunities, including those at the Professional Game Academy, so they can remain in the women's game." Blackburn's statement added: "Regrettably, despite all Rovers women's league fixtures being played at Ewood Park last season for the first time, there was no noticeable upturn in home attendances, resulting in the absence of the substantial matchday commercial revenue and sponsorships required to support continued investment at Tier 2. "We acknowledge the disappointment this may cause to our players, supporters and staff, and extend our heartfelt appreciation for their unwavering dedication last season, but this decision has not been made lightly. "To be absolutely clear, Blackburn is not walking away from the women's game. Like other respected clubs with a proud history in the game, we are taking necessary steps and finding a path that is sustainable and responsible for the long-term future of women's football at Blackburn."
