Guardian: Blackburn Women s Football Team withdrew from Level 2 because the club owner is reluctant to provide funds

May 21, According to the Guardian, the Blackburn Rangers Women's Football Team confirmed its withdrawal from the Women's Division 2 League (WSL 2) and will re-enter at least two levels due to the owners of Blackburn Club reluctance to provide funds to meet the league's new minimum permit requirements.

Players and staff were informed of the decision Tuesday afternoon, and the club was considering withdrawing from the second division, with players anxious, angry and in a state of uncertainty waiting for a formal decision, according to the Guardian.

It is understood that the WSL football management agency is working with the Professional Players Association and Sporting Chance to support players and staff. In a statement posted on its website, the club said the decision came after a “full review of the ever-changing needs of second-level clubs that have become unsustainable under our current model”.

While any club that joins the league must meet the minimum standards, WSL 2 plans to continue operating 12 teams next season. These standards are seen as important guarantees for further professionalization, protecting the well-being of all participants and maintaining the fairness of the competition.

WSL Football CEO Nicky Dussett said: "This is a sad day for women's football, and our hearts are with the players, staff and fans of Blackburn Rangers women's football. We have been working with the club all season to try to avoid this and we are very disappointed with the end result."

The Blackburn Rangers women's football team is said to operate on a relatively low budget and ranked 10th in the Women's Division 2 last season and second to last, only 5 points higher than the relegation zone.

To raise the minimum standards for players, the minimum requirements for participating in the renamed league (called the Champions League in the 2024/25 season) will be added this summer, and the WSL 2 team is expected to operate a professional team basically full-time.

These standards are believed to include requiring the club to appoint a women’s football supervisor, marketing manager, head coach, assistant coach, physical therapist or sports therapist, doctor, physical coach, goalkeeper coach, and multiple specific protection and player welfare roles within one month of the new season.

WSL Football said in a statement: "For the long-term future of women's football, every club is required to comply with the minimum standards of being a league member and conduct compliance and development reviews before each season and monitor throughout the season."

Blackburn Rangers Club said: "With the growing financial and operational restrictions brought by the second-level status, including the requirements for the shift to a full-career model, has reached a point where the club's current financial framework cannot be maintained." Key factors that affect this decision include a significant increase in the minimum standards set by the league, including extended training time for players, requiring a full-time career contract model, increasing staffing levels lead to higher wage costs, and greater pressure on training grounds and court facilities. The

club blamed in part on "no significant increase in home spectators", although all league games were held at Ewood Park last season, as well as lack of match-day commercial revenue and sponsorship.

Blackburn Rangers Women's Football Team will re-enter the pyramid structure yet to be determined, a FA spokesperson said: "We are discussing with Blackburn which level they can enter the women's football pyramid next season, and the decision will be announced in due course."