Latest news with #Women'sProfessionalLeaguesLimited
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
WSL make huge announcement as clubs give green light to two changes
A proposal put forward by Nikki Doucet, chief executive of Women's Professional Leagues Limited, was voted through at Monday's WSL Football shareholders meeting - with an expansion and play-off confirmed The Women's Super League is set expand to 14 teams from the start of the 2026-27 season, with a promotion and relegation play-off to be introduced. A proposal put forward by Nikki Doucet, chief executive of Women's Professional Leagues Limited, was voted through at Monday's WSL Football shareholders meeting. It requires the approval of the Football Association board but, if it gets the green light, 14 teams will compete in the women's top flight from next year. It means the 2025-26 campaign WSL will conclude with a relegation/promotion play-off. 'Over the past few months, WSL Football has led a thorough and robust, consultative process backed by research and analysis which explored multiple options that could drive the game forward and help it reach its potential,' Doucet said. 'Our priority was to find a route that would benefit the whole women's game pyramid, and we believe this next evolution of women's professional football will raise minimum standards, create distinction and incentivise investment across the board. 'Subject to the approval from the FA board, expanding the BWSL to 14 teams will stimulate movement between leagues and through the pyramid which increases opportunities. 'The introduction of a promotion/relegation play-off creates distinction for the women's game and introduces a high-profile, high-stakes match.' If the expansion from a 12-team WSL to 14 gets FA approval, it offers three Women's Championship clubs the chance to gain promotion during the 2025-26 campaign. The top two of the Championship will go up automatically and the third-placed side will take on the team which finished bottom of the WSL in a play-off. The Championship will continue as a 12-team league with 'additional promotion opportunities' from the FA Women's National League Northern and Southern Premier Divisions at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. 'The method for these promotions, and any impact further down the pyramid, will be confirmed by The FA in due course,' a WSL Football statement read. It means from the 2026-27 season, the 14th-placed team would be relegated and replaced by the winner of the Championship. A relegation/promotion play-off between the 13th-placed club in the WSL and Championship runner-up would then determine the final place in the top-flight.
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Relegation backlash 'has not changed our perspective'
The backlash against the idea of a potential temporary scrapping of relegation from the Women's Super League "has not changed our perspective" on changes, Nikki Doucet of the Women's Professional Leagues Limited has chief executive at WPLL which oversees England's top two tiers of women's football, stressed that no proposals were ready or decisions made regarding potential changes to the competition or structure in addressing reports of radical proposals being despite describing relegation and promotion as "critical to the success of our league" she said that the reaction to the idea of a short-term halt to relegation had not impacted their stressed that no proposals were ready and that no decision had been made regarding potential changes to the competition or structure."We believe promotion and relegation is a great thing. It makes English football distinctive from other leagues. It adds jeopardy and excitement," she said."It's something we all love about the game of football and that has never been under question."We fundamentally believe promotion and relegation is an important differentiator and an important competitive advantage for us."But asked if backlash to the idea of scrapping relegation had changed WPLL's perspective, Doucet said: "No, it hasn't. I would say our perspective or analysis hasn't changed."We have been very thoughtful on the analysis of the different possibilities around us. We just wanted to make sure we had clarity." 'We have to look at the range of possibilities' The WPLL has previously said nothing is off the table as it assesses ways in which it can grow the WSL and encourage more investment. It says shareholders, players, fans and the Football Association will all be involved to help "evolve" the leagues."We have to look at the range of possibilities that are available to us and the pros and cons of all of those and be really thoughtful," said Doucet. "We deeply understand the impact of decisions and the impact of everything done at the top, that it cascades down the pyramid."Doucet did not definitively rule out the potential to scrap relegation and when pressed, she said: "Again, I would just go back to what I said before in that I think it is a really important differentiator and a competitive advantage for our leagues. "I think that's never been in question from our perspective."Should any formal proposals be put forward in future shareholders' meetings, the WPLL says it would consult with fan groups before proceeding. "Absolutely the fan groups will be part of consultation. We are still looking at concepts and options," the WPLL added."When that proposal is in a place where we can consult, there will be informal and formal consultation. The governance process is vigorous."At the moment there is nothing to vote on. We are still working through and considering if we do something different, is that the right thing?"
