FANS’ opposition to pausing relegation from the women’s top tier is unlikely to shift officials’ “perspective” on possible changes to the division.
However, women’s game bosses say supporters will be consulted.
GettyThe Women’s Professional League Limited (WPLL) are “reviewing various options” in regard to speeding up the growth of the Women’s Super League[/caption]
GettyAccording to the WPLL fans will be consulted on any changes to the structure and function of the women’s game’s top two divisions[/caption]
Nikki Doucet, the chief of Women’s Professional League Limited (WPLL), was speaking on Thursday following reports of a temporary scrapping of relegation from the WSL.
The idea of a potential four-year suspension of the drop between the top-flight and the second tier, has been met with a backlash from some fans.
This includes a group running an online petition opposing the idea, which has attracted more than 1,400 signatures.
However Doucet, who is in charge of the WPLL, the independent company running the WSL and Women’s Championship, insists no decisions have been made on changes to the top league’s format.
She told reporters: “We fundamentally believe promotion and relegation is an important differentiator and an important competitive advantage for us, relative to other women’s sport leagues globally.
“It adds jeopardy and excitement. It’s something we all love about the game of football and that has never been under question.
“It is really important for us to make sure we are considering all the possibilities to accelerate growth and to grow in the right way.
“We wouldn’t be doing our job properly if we weren’t considering and reviewing the various options available to us.”
The idea of (temporarily) scrapping relegation from the WSL has prompted mixed reaction from some of the sport’s influential figures.
Former UK sport chair Baroness Sue Campbell reckons it could give the division “its own distinctive personality”.
However Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor believes relegation is “good to have” in terms of competition.
When asked if fans’ outcry over the possibility of scrapping relegation had affected the WPLL’s perspective, Doucet insists there has been no wavering.
She adds: “Our perspective or analysis hasn’t changed.
“We have been very thoughtful on the analysis of the different possibilities around us.
“We have to look at the range of possibilities that are available to us and the pros and cons of all of those and be really thoughtful
“We deeply understand the impact of decisions and the impact of everything done at the top, that it cascades down the pyramid.”
One concern for supporters running the petition urging fans to voice their opinions on the WSL’s future was the idea of the top-flight becoming a closed league.
However the Football Association, who hold certain powers to prevent such a move, are likely to oppose this.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: “We do have certain golden share powers, as we do in the Premier League.
“I think over the last few years we’ve been asked a few times whether we would accept a closed league and our response has always been no.
“The reason for that is not just a pure moral sporting point of view, we don’t think in the long-term that it’s smart commercially because you end up with a lot of dead rubbers.
“However, we think that some of the ideas being put forward at the moment are worth considering on the proviso that there’s still promotion into the league.
GettyFA chief Mark Bullingham says the FA would be supportive of WSL changes that lead to improved academies, player pathways and minimum standards for clubs[/caption]
“I think there’s a difference between not having relegation and allowing the league to grow through promotion with no relegation, versus having a closed league.
“If we get presented with a package of changes that’s good for the women’s game overall, then we could potentially be supportive, but we would need to look at that overall package.
“I’m talking about academies, minimum standards, player pathways, and within the context of that there’s a change to the number of clubs in the league brought about through having promotion and no relegation.”
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