‘Absolute disgrace’: FA’s plan to restructure Women’s National League criticised
Proposed changes to the Women’s National League, which would include WSL academy teams playing in the third tier, have received negative feedback
Plans to include four Women’s Super League academy sides in the third tier of the pyramid from 2027 have been criticised as an idea based around “repackaged B teams” and have received a mixed reaction from club staff and supporters.
The changes to the Women’s National League, put forward by the Football Association, would also introduce a mid-season split similar to that used in Scotland, as well as a potential investment package of about £1m and enhancements to legal and medical support in the loan system. They have not yet been formally ratified, but consultations are continuing.
The proposals come just over a year after the FA decided not to press ahead with a previous expansion plan that would have led to B teams from WSL clubs being introduced into tier four from next season. That idea drew support from under 55% of 144 clubs surveyed.
The Wolves Women head coach, Daniel McNamara, whose side are second in the National League Northern Premier Division, said the latest ideas were “odd”, while Lee Burch, head coach of Rugby Borough, who sit one place below Wolves, said on social media: “So many issues. Best players at those 4 PGA will still get loaned into WSL/[WSL2] etc. Injury risk to those young players also going to be very high. Unfortunately [it] will happen, FA [has] been pushing for years.”
Keehlan Panayiotou, assistant coach at the third-tier club Gwalia United, and formerly a coach at Bristol City’s girls’ academy, wrote: “The worst idea in FAWNL is rehashed, repackaged and tried again. No B teams in the pyramid. Use the loan and dual registration system which isn’t being effectively used enough. U21s in the pyramid won’t provide that first team environment that tier three and four sides will.”
Ian Chiverton, the chair of Portsmouth’s supporters club, described the proposals as an “awful idea”, accusing the authorities of “pandering to the WSL teams”, while Danny Taylor, the assistant manager of the North West regional league side Mancunian Unity called the idea an “absolute disgrace”.
Not all reaction has been negative, however. “Brilliant idea, in principle,” wrote Arsenal Women’s under-21 coach, David Pipe. “I hope the execution and outcomes are equally as exciting.” Sources close to several WSL clubs have said the idea is welcomed by a lot of top-tier teams.
An FA spokesperson said on Tuesday: “We are exploring a range of initiatives to drive continued improvements across the Women’s National League. Our priority is to ensure the women’s football pyramid in England continues to grow in a sustainable way, improving the quality, professionalism and competitiveness of the Women’s National League.”