News

A mixture of joy and pain has greeted confirmation by The Football Association of its redrawn women’s league pyramid - with West Ham United and Manchester United the biggest winners.

West Ham have been controversially catapulted from the third tier into the all-professional, 11-team Women’s Super League next season, whilst newly-formed Manchester United, as expected. will join the predominantly part-time 12-team second tier, rebranded as the Championship from last season’s WSL2.

The decision to demote Sunderland after refusing to allow the Black Cats to retain their place in the top flight, is a cruel blow to Melanie Copeland’s side who finished a creditable seventh in the WSL1 campaign.

Sunderland have also played an integral part in the wider development of the English women’s game and over the years produced a succession of top players including England internationals Lucy Bronze, Steph Houghton, Jordan Nobbs, Jill Scott and Beth Mead.

It has been confirmed that a rule in the initial FA WSL application pack - which suggested that had Sunderland been unsuccessful they could be demoted two divisions - has now been re-worded. The ruling now states that: "Clubs who have played in FA WSL 1 & 2 during the 2017/18 season and have not been awarded a Tier 1 or Tier 2 licence for 2018/19 will be accommodated and offered a position at the highest level available within the women's football pyramid."

Sunderland's exit still means that there is no team north of Manchester in the top tier. 

The FA has decided it will now expand the Super League from 10 teams to 11, rather than the 12 or 14 envisaged and the second tier from 10 to 12 sides.

Its conclusion has led to Charlton, Leicester City, Lewes and Sheffield United (who make the leap from the fourth tier) also joining the expanded second tier, but left Southampton, Crystal Palace and Derby County bitterly disappointed by the failure of their bids.

The restructure also sees Watford and Oxford United drop into the third tier.

There remains, however, a number of anomalies to the restructuring. Brighton - who finished 10 points behind WSL2 champions Doncaster Belles, received a top-division licence in March, whilst Donny missed out. Yeovil, who were also granted a top-flight place after convincing The FA that they had the £350,000 required to turn professional, racked up just two goals and two points from 18 games last season.

All decisions are subject to appeal, to be made within 14 days.

As it stands (pending possible appeals), the new divisions will line up as follows in 2018/19: 

Super League • Arsenal • Birmingham City Ladies • Brighton & Hove Albion Women • Bristol City Women • Chelsea FC Women • Everton Ladies FC • Liverpool Ladies FC • Manchester City Women • Reading FC Women • Yeovil Town Ladies • West Ham United Ladies

Championship • Aston Villa Ladies FC • Doncaster Rovers Belles • Durham Women FC • London Bees • Millwall Lionesses • Sheffield FC Ladies • Tottenham Hotspur Ladies • Charlton Athletic Women • Leicester City Women • Lewes FC Women • Manchester United Women* • Sheffield United Ladies

A full Q & A with Katie Brazier, The FA’s head of women’s leagues and competitions, sabout the awarding of Tier 1 and Tier 2 club licences, can be found by clicking on the link here.

Share this article