Women's Super League: what the proposed restructure could mean for women's football
The FA recently announced new plans to transform the Women's Super League. From the start of the 2018/19 season the top tier of the English women's game will be for full-time clubs only. The proposals would see the league become completely professional with all top-flight clubs now required to run an academy under the new criteria.
The new plans will result in the league having between eight and 14 teams with all existing league members needing to re-apply for their places. New teams could also earn licences to join the top tier. Speaking in a statement, the FA's head of women's leagues and competitions, Katie Brazier, described the move as "a landmark moment for women’s football in this country." However, despite the changes seemingly being positive, doubts still remain as to whether they will help or hinder the women's game.
The move will see a minimum of 16 contact hours per week for players, rising to 20 hours per week by 2020-21. Long-serving Lewes FC player, Tammy Waine, says although the move is positive it does come with risks. "To have a professional set up... you've got to think players that are established in their careers, are they going to give up a career in teaching for example for a 19 hour contract? I don't know. To have a professional league is the next step. To train day in day out, to work towards international football, towards Champions League football... where it's their career to be a footballer. That's got to be the next step and I hope a trickle effect will happen."
Football finance expert, Rob Wilson, says although he supports the move, it may take time to see the benefits. "Moving to a professional set up is a good move but it comes with its costs. Ultimately it will need some financial support to help it to get off the ground, certainly in the first three to five years before those teams can become much more financially stable in their own right."
There have also been concerns as to what impact the new proposals could have on lower league clubs. Rob admits that smaller teams may feel the impact. "Locally to me is Sheffield FC's women's team, it's very difficult for them to generate the financial resources that a team like Manchester City are delivering. What we'll start to see is very unequal competition. We'll see some of those well established professional teams that are supported by their male counterparts do very very well and I think it will make it much more difficult for the smaller teams to come through. The idea of professionalism is sound, it needs to be done, but the FA need to be careful about how it impacts the smaller teams."
