Sheffield United get reprieve to stick in WSL 2 after Blackburn withdrawal

Sheffield United are to be given a reprieve from relegation and stay in the second one tier, WSL 2, subsequent season, the Guardian understands.

The determination, made by means of the Football Association, follows Blackburn Rovers’ determination to withdraw from the English girls’s pyramid’s 2d tier for monetary causes.

Sheffield United had completed backside of tier two closing season however have met the entire necessities for a WSL 2 licence. Burnley, a third-tier membership additionally carried out to fill the emptiness left by means of Blackburn afrer pledging to transport to full-time standing, however it’s understood steerage within the FA guide ended in the verdict to make a choice Sheffield United as an alternative.

It manner there can be 12 groups in WSL 2 subsequent time period, heading off a repeat of the 2024-25 marketing campaign which simplest noticed 11 groups take part following closing summer time’s eleventh-hour withdrawal of Reading.

The information comes at the similar day that the fourth-tier girls’s membership Barnsley FC have withdrawn from their league with the membership chairman, Neerav Parekh, announcing that “funding does not trickle down sufficiently” from the highest leagues when bringing up the membership’s causes for his or her determination. They completed 8th in Division One North of the FAWNL this season.

With Blackburn losing down the divisions, Halifax also are anticipated to be given a reprieve from relegation within the 1/3 tier and keep within the Women’s National League Northern Premier League.

Blackburn Rovers showed their withdrawal from the WSL 2 on 20 May and that they’re going to re-enter a minimum of two tiers under. The house owners have been unwilling to give you the investment to fulfill the department’s new minimal licence requirement.

Nikki Doucet, the WSL Football leader government, mentioned on the time: “This is a sad day for women’s football and our hearts go out to the players, staff and fans at Blackburn Rovers FC Women affected by this decision to withdraw from the Women’s Super League 2. We have been working with the club all season to prevent this outcome and we are disappointed it has come to this.”