New wsl licences

[croc]

Anyone care to guess who will be applying for the new top division?   West Ham have put their hat in the ring, I've heard Derby are interested but don't know if they are going for tier 1 or 2.

[sylvain]

Two weeks ago, I discussed it with another fan and this is what we had guessed. Obviously one of guesses was wrong actually, so not all the team listed below are interested. Loads of guesswork especially for tier 2

Tier 1 : Arsenal, Birmingam, Brighton, Bristol, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, London Bees, Man City, Man Utd, Reading, Southampton, Tottenham, West Ham
Tier 2 : Aston Villa, Boro, Charlton, Crystal Palace, Derby, Doncacster, Durham, Forest, Fylde, Leicester, Leeds, Millwall, OXford, Sheffield, Stoke, Sunderland, Watford, WBA, Yeovil

[buzzbee]

I'd be happy if there are anywhere near that number of teams applying. Unfortunately, I don't see it being close to that

[sylvain]

Rumour going round says 11 teams in Tier 1 ... at least, for a maximum of 14 teams. While only 12 places in Tier 2, some WSL 2  might get outbid by FA WPL teams for a licence...

[croc]

Watford have announced they wont bid so that's one less.   Sunderland will probably bid as part of some new entity possibly in partnership with a university and go for second tier.  Derby have said they are interested but there has been nothing in the local media.   I half expected to FA to u-turn and allow existing WSL clubs to remain part time at least for a period of a couple of years but if Sunderland have effectively moved on I guess that is less likely now.

[sylvain]

London Bees and Yeovil have applied for Tier 1  as expected.

[Cabbages]

They should introduce this into the Premier League- or do clubs already buy themselves into that league ?

[pat51]

They should introduce this into the Premier League- or do clubs already buy themselves into that league ?

Teams enter the FAWPL by winning their Regional league . That said, the funding at FAWPL level comes almost entirely from the private sources, generous patrons, company sponsorship, private donations, player subs......the FA give £90000 shared amongst 72 clubs...ie 1250 per club....as opposed to 30000 per WSL 2 club.

Clubs which transition from Regional level successfully and rise through the FAWPL are generally those with strong external financial means...attracting players, coaching staff and even paying some players, There have been several examples over the last few years of clubs coming from 'nowhere' thanks to private funding

So. in a sense, success will nearly always be bought...when clubs rely on their own resources rather than FA funding.

[sylvain]

London Bees and Yeovil have applied for Tier 1  as expected.

I was wrong London Bees did not apply for Tier 1.

All teams accepted to their prefer bid. 10 in Tier 1 7 in Tier 2.
Sunderland, Oxford and Watford of course with no bids.

[SSFC]

Watford have announced they wont bid so that's one less.   Sunderland will probably bid as part of some new entity possibly in partnership with a university and go for second tier.  Derby have said they are interested but there has been nothing in the local media.   I half expected to FA to u-turn and allow existing WSL clubs to remain part time at least for a period of a couple of years but if Sunderland have effectively moved on I guess that is less likely now.

Team North, as the SSFC experiment appears to have failed. However whoever at Shields agreed that contract based on 1000 plus crowds, forcing their own Ladies team to play elsewhere needs to be given their P45. 25k down the drain, just think what that could have done for Ladies/girls football in the town.

[Cabbages]

Looks like it wasnt properly thought through there-

[sylvain]

No way the FA always thinks everything right 

[Cabbages]

Do you mean the seet FA there Shlj ?😀

[Welsh May]

Maybe I'm being dense but my daughter wants to continue at school doing her A levels there. Will this be a problem next year with the new set up and academies. Does she have to go to an academy? Someone said she would? That cant be right surely? Please advise ..............

[sylvain]

It is not compulsory at all. Hayley Ladd at Arsenal was not part of the academy, as she was going to her local school and was playing for the Arsenal reserves at the time.
It is up to the clubs to advise the players though.

[Welsh May]

many thanks ... one or two parents we know from other clubs said certainly one central team were indicating the academy players would have to link to the college which did appear discriminatory. I am never sure in women's football as the structures are constantly changing? ... as long as we are encouraging lots of girls to try to be the best they can be, I'm good. Cheers