The Football Association's decision to drop Doncaster Rovers Belles into the second tier of women's football from next season is "morally scandalous", says the boss of a rival club. The FA has decided Manchester City will replace the Belles in the top flight. But Arsenal's general manager Vic Akers said: "Donny have the support of all the league's current clubs. "I've spoken to all seven and we all feel what the FA has done is unjust - in my opinion it's morally scandalous." The Women's Super League (WSL), which is run by the FA, will expand to two divisions from next season, with newcomers Manchester City Ladies joining seven other teams in FA WSL 1.
But Akers, who along with Birmingham City chairman Steve Shipway represents the clubs on the WSL committee, said: "When they made their announcement, Donny had played only one match of the [current] season. "To relegate them after 90 minutes is a joke - it's kicking them out. "If you're talking about relegation then you should also talk about promotion, and Manchester City didn't win the Premier League [the level below the WSL], they finished fourth. "Sunderland won it for the third year in a row and yet they'll be in the WSL's second division next year. It seems to me it's more about money than football." Finance is one of several criteria, among them club structure, coaching set-up and playing standard, that the FA takes into consideration when handing out what are effectively WSL franchises. The FA is making no comment about the situation surrounding Doncaster - the only club to have been continuously in the top flight since a national league system was formed in 1991 - until the club's appeal against the decision is completed, probably in early June. Akers, who in 1987 founded the Arsenal women's team and as manager led them to prominence, added: "When we started, Donny were the premier women's team in the country. What's happening to them now is unjust."
Doncaster Rovers Belles Formed in 1969 as Belle Vue Belles, becoming Doncaster Belles in 1971 One of the founding members of national Premier League in 1991 They completed the league and FA Cup double in 1991-92 season without losing a game Completed another league and FA Cup double in 1993-94 Teamed up with the men's team in 2005 to become Doncaster Rovers Belles and share stadium Became one of eight teams in FA WSL as top tier moved to summer in 2011 Finished second from bottom in both seasons so far Demoted to FA WSL 2 for 2014 season, with club appealing decision Having finished second from bottom in the first two WSL seasons, Doncaster will drop down a division to FA WSL 2 and compete against nine other sides.
The FA clearly feel that they can get away with this as there is little interest in women's football compared to the men's game. Personally I think that there needs to be some
Looks like Sunderland are being screwed over more. What a shambles changing the league after a single game.
No more screwed over than our U21 team who can't be promoted despite walking their regional league AND winning the national play-off.
We now have a 'franchise' system in both women's and youth football - how long before some bright spark decides it's a good idea for the PL/FL as well?
The FA clearly feel that they can get away with this as there is little interest in women's football compared to the men's game. Personally I think that there needs to be some
The people running football reflect the behaviour of many self serving individuals in this day and age, such as Politicians, Journalists, and many more.
The people running football reflect the behaviour of many self serving individuals in this day and age, such as Politicians, Journalists, and many more.
I say politicians and journalists have always been self serving... But who are the FA accountable to? Who votes them in?
Poor from the FA. But are we suprised. Money talks...
On the subject of Womens football, any idea why we aren't joining the WSL. The teams in Division 2 of the WSL are:
•Aston Villa - moving from Premier League •Doncaster Rovers Belles - relegated from WSL D1 •Durham •London Bees (Barnet FC) - moving from Premier League •Millwall Lionesses •Oxford United •Reading •Sunderland - moving from Premier League •Watford - moving from Premier League •Yeovil Town
3 of the 4 teams from the Premier League finished higher then us (Barnet were bottom) and there are 5 teams who weren't in the PL.
Why didn't teams like ourselves, Leeds, etc from the PL join the WSL? Are we not going to be left behind in terms of the quality of teams we are playing next season?
The people running football reflect the behaviour of many self serving individuals in this day and age, such as Politicians, Journalists, and many more.
This.
The whole country has been hijacked by the greedy, the power hungry and the self-serving.
Sadly, a sign of the times. And it seems no one can stop them.
Terrible, but hardly a new thing. Gateshead AFC, a founder member of the fourth division had to apply for re-election when they finished in the bottom 4 (22nd out of 24) for the first time. They were booted out the league, despite the teams below them being re-elected, largely because they were a more convenient commute. This was before the days of a national conference and the club ended up in liquidation. All of this, greed is a new thing is complete hooey that comes from a lack of thought. Are slavery, child labour and elite-only education were modern inventions?
Notice it's the Arsenal womens team manager saying it's unjust. Didn't Arsenal take their place in the top flight despite finishing 5th in the 2nd tier.
Next month, women's football will be under the spotlight as seldom before. England's three matches in the European Championship in Sweden will be screened live by the BBC, and it is a competition they have a fair chance of winning.
Yet the situation that Hope Powell's squad will leave behind is riven by bitterness. The Football Association have told perhaps the most iconic name in women's football, Doncaster Belles, that they will be relegated no matter where they finish in this summer's Super League. The decision has been condemned as "morally scandalous" by Arsenal, the League's leading club.
The Belles have appealed, and expect a decision in the next fortnight. If they lose the appeal, they will then decide whether to take the matter to court, with the head of the country's leading law school telling The Independent on Sunday that no judge will rule against them. How the women's game in England got into this mess seems on the surface to be a scandal of jaw-dropping proportions.
Doncaster Rovers Belles, to give them their full name, had lost their opening game of the season. Four-nil at home to Chelsea was bad, but what followed was scarcely believable. One of the most successful clubs in women's football were told they would drop out of the top flight to make way for a better-resourced franchise, Manchester City.
"How do you think I felt telling them that?" said the Belles' manager, John Buckley. "How did they react? How do you think they reacted?"
They reacted by launching the appeal against the decision. Doncaster Belles have never finished in a relegation position in their 22-year history. The team who finished bottom in last season's Super League were Liverpool. The team who finished top of the second tier, which is bizarrely called the Premier League, were Sunderland.
Liverpool were not relegated and Sunderland were not promoted, although Manchester City, who finished fourth in the Premier League, will take a place in a newly formed Women's Super League One next season. It was an invitation that was not extended to Doncaster, a club who had won the FA Cup six times.
"I cannot understand why Doncaster have not been able to throw their hat in the ring and compete for a place," said Buckley. "If we finish bottom, then we hold our hands up and we admit we are not good enough. We have never lost the right to play in this division and that is what really sticks in your throat. We may just have to take it on the chin." It will be some blow.
When inviting applications from franchises for a reorganised Women's Super League for the 2014 summer season, the FA had four criteria: financial management, commercial sustainability, facilities, plus player and youth development. Manchester City met them, the Belles did not.
Both the morality and the legality of the FA's decision are open to question. The chief executive of BPP Holdings, who run the country's largest law school, is Carl Lygo. He went to school with perhaps the Belles' greatest player, Karen Walker, who scored a hat-trick in every round to help win the FA Cup in 1992. He has offered BPP's legal services free of charge to the Belles.
"They have a case in many areas, whether it is breach of contract under English law or, in European law, the FA abusing a dominant position in the market place," said Lygo. "I have spoken to a leading QC and a retired court of appeal judge about this case and I don't think any judge in the country would find against Doncaster Belles.
"They are in the best financial position for years; they have England internationals; their stadium was used for this year's FA Cup final. How do they not meet the FA's criteria?"
Neither the FA nor Doncaster Belles are commenting on the case while it is under appeal. However, others are not so reticent. Arsenal's general manager, Vic Akers, called the FA's decision "unjust and morally scandalous". He added: "Donny have the support of all the League's current clubs. It seems it is more about money than football."
It is a warm Tuesday evening and the Belles are playing Lincoln City Ladies at Sincil Bank. Sarah Maye, her husband, Kevin, and daughter Emma have brought a banner that speaks for many in south Yorkshire: "Doncaster Belles, 22 Years in the Top Division Ended by the FA's Gr££d."
This is a meeting of the Super League's bottom two clubs. But it is a fact universally acknowledged that any sporting institution that calls itself "Super" is not, and this contest proves the rule. You wonder if Doncaster are playing like a relegated team because that is what they are. The match finishes goalless, largely thanks to the Belles' goalkeeper, Nicola Hobbs.
However, as Sarah points out, at least Doncaster will still have a team next season; Lincoln will lose theirs, because their franchise will be shifted across the Trent to become Notts County Ladies.
"Doncaster have one of the best stadiums in the WSL," she said. "Arsenal play at Boreham Wood, Birmingham in Stratford-upon-Avon, Liverpool at Widnes. We have a 15,000-seat stadium. We have eight England internationals. If the decision does not go our way, we could lose all these players.
"The support we have had from every other club has been humbling but I am not optimistic. Sometimes you have to accept tough decisions, but you can't if they are not explained to you." And on the final whistle the banner is taken down and prepared for its next journey.
Poor from the FA. But are we suprised. Money talks...
On the subject of Womens football, any idea why we aren't joining the WSL. The teams in Division 2 of the WSL are:
•Aston Villa - moving from Premier League •Doncaster Rovers Belles - relegated from WSL D1 •Durham •London Bees (Barnet FC) - moving from Premier League •Millwall Lionesses •Oxford United •Reading •Sunderland - moving from Premier League •Watford - moving from Premier League •Yeovil Town
3 of the 4 teams from the Premier League finished higher then us (Barnet were bottom) and there are 5 teams who weren't in the PL.
Why didn't teams like ourselves, Leeds, etc from the PL join the WSL? Are we not going to be left behind in terms of the quality of teams we are playing next season?
According to the OS, we applied, but our application was declined:
"Charlton saw their application to stay in the second tier of English women’s football turned down by the Football Association so will compete in the third tier – the top tier of the winter pyramid - next term. "
Comments
By Tony Leighton
Women's football reporter
The Football Association's decision to drop Doncaster Rovers Belles into the second tier of women's football from next season is "morally scandalous", says the boss of a rival club.
The FA has decided Manchester City will replace the Belles in the top flight.
But Arsenal's general manager Vic Akers said: "Donny have the support of all the league's current clubs.
"I've spoken to all seven and we all feel what the FA has done is unjust - in my opinion it's morally scandalous."
The Women's Super League (WSL), which is run by the FA, will expand to two divisions from next season, with newcomers Manchester City Ladies joining seven other teams in FA WSL 1.
But Akers, who along with Birmingham City chairman Steve Shipway represents the clubs on the WSL committee, said: "When they made their announcement, Donny had played only one match of the [current] season.
"To relegate them after 90 minutes is a joke - it's kicking them out.
"If you're talking about relegation then you should also talk about promotion, and Manchester City didn't win the Premier League [the level below the WSL], they finished fourth.
"Sunderland won it for the third year in a row and yet they'll be in the WSL's second division next year. It seems to me it's more about money than football."
Finance is one of several criteria, among them club structure, coaching set-up and playing standard, that the FA takes into consideration when handing out what are effectively WSL franchises.
The FA is making no comment about the situation surrounding Doncaster - the only club to have been continuously in the top flight since a national league system was formed in 1991 - until the club's appeal against the decision is completed, probably in early June.
Akers, who in 1987 founded the Arsenal women's team and as manager led them to prominence, added: "When we started, Donny were the premier women's team in the country. What's happening to them now is unjust."
Doncaster Rovers Belles
Formed in 1969 as Belle Vue Belles, becoming Doncaster Belles in 1971
One of the founding members of national Premier League in 1991
They completed the league and FA Cup double in 1991-92 season without losing a game
Completed another league and FA Cup double in 1993-94
Teamed up with the men's team in 2005 to become Doncaster Rovers Belles and share stadium
Became one of eight teams in FA WSL as top tier moved to summer in 2011
Finished second from bottom in both seasons so far
Demoted to FA WSL 2 for 2014 season, with club appealing decision
Having finished second from bottom in the first two WSL seasons, Doncaster will drop down a division to FA WSL 2 and compete against nine other sides.
We now have a 'franchise' system in both women's and youth football - how long before some bright spark decides it's a good idea for the PL/FL as well?
Have no idea what this will achieve but here's a petition you can sign.
Ashley Cole had it spot on. Twats.
On the subject of Womens football, any idea why we aren't joining the WSL. The teams in Division 2 of the WSL are:
•Aston Villa - moving from Premier League
•Doncaster Rovers Belles - relegated from WSL D1
•Durham
•London Bees (Barnet FC) - moving from Premier League
•Millwall Lionesses
•Oxford United
•Reading
•Sunderland - moving from Premier League
•Watford - moving from Premier League
•Yeovil Town
3 of the 4 teams from the Premier League finished higher then us (Barnet were bottom) and there are 5 teams who weren't in the PL.
Why didn't teams like ourselves, Leeds, etc from the PL join the WSL? Are we not going to be left behind in terms of the quality of teams we are playing next season?
The whole country has been hijacked by the greedy, the power hungry and the self-serving.
Sadly, a sign of the times. And it seems no one can stop them.
Seems they can't even protest about it........
Notice it's the Arsenal womens team manager saying it's unjust. Didn't Arsenal take their place in the top flight despite finishing 5th in the 2nd tier.
Lincoln ladies team are being sent to Nottingham.
Next month, women's football will be under the spotlight as seldom before. England's three matches in the European Championship in Sweden will be screened live by the BBC, and it is a competition they have a fair chance of winning.
Yet the situation that Hope Powell's squad will leave behind is riven by bitterness. The Football Association have told perhaps the most iconic name in women's football, Doncaster Belles, that they will be relegated no matter where they finish in this summer's Super League. The decision has been condemned as "morally scandalous" by Arsenal, the League's leading club.
The Belles have appealed, and expect a decision in the next fortnight. If they lose the appeal, they will then decide whether to take the matter to court, with the head of the country's leading law school telling The Independent on Sunday that no judge will rule against them. How the women's game in England got into this mess seems on the surface to be a scandal of jaw-dropping proportions.
Doncaster Rovers Belles, to give them their full name, had lost their opening game of the season. Four-nil at home to Chelsea was bad, but what followed was scarcely believable. One of the most successful clubs in women's football were told they would drop out of the top flight to make way for a better-resourced franchise, Manchester City.
"How do you think I felt telling them that?" said the Belles' manager, John Buckley. "How did they react? How do you think they reacted?"
They reacted by launching the appeal against the decision. Doncaster Belles have never finished in a relegation position in their 22-year history. The team who finished bottom in last season's Super League were Liverpool. The team who finished top of the second tier, which is bizarrely called the Premier League, were Sunderland.
Liverpool were not relegated and Sunderland were not promoted, although Manchester City, who finished fourth in the Premier League, will take a place in a newly formed Women's Super League One next season. It was an invitation that was not extended to Doncaster, a club who had won the FA Cup six times.
"I cannot understand why Doncaster have not been able to throw their hat in the ring and compete for a place," said Buckley. "If we finish bottom, then we hold our hands up and we admit we are not good enough. We have never lost the right to play in this division and that is what really sticks in your throat. We may just have to take it on the chin." It will be some blow.
When inviting applications from franchises for a reorganised Women's Super League for the 2014 summer season, the FA had four criteria: financial management, commercial sustainability, facilities, plus player and youth development. Manchester City met them, the Belles did not.
Both the morality and the legality of the FA's decision are open to question. The chief executive of BPP Holdings, who run the country's largest law school, is Carl Lygo. He went to school with perhaps the Belles' greatest player, Karen Walker, who scored a hat-trick in every round to help win the FA Cup in 1992. He has offered BPP's legal services free of charge to the Belles.
"They have a case in many areas, whether it is breach of contract under English law or, in European law, the FA abusing a dominant position in the market place," said Lygo. "I have spoken to a leading QC and a retired court of appeal judge about this case and I don't think any judge in the country would find against Doncaster Belles.
"They are in the best financial position for years; they have England internationals; their stadium was used for this year's FA Cup final. How do they not meet the FA's criteria?"
Neither the FA nor Doncaster Belles are commenting on the case while it is under appeal. However, others are not so reticent. Arsenal's general manager, Vic Akers, called the FA's decision "unjust and morally scandalous". He added: "Donny have the support of all the League's current clubs. It seems it is more about money than football."
It is a warm Tuesday evening and the Belles are playing Lincoln City Ladies at Sincil Bank. Sarah Maye, her husband, Kevin, and daughter Emma have brought a banner that speaks for many in south Yorkshire: "Doncaster Belles, 22 Years in the Top Division Ended by the FA's Gr££d."
This is a meeting of the Super League's bottom two clubs. But it is a fact universally acknowledged that any sporting institution that calls itself "Super" is not, and this contest proves the rule. You wonder if Doncaster are playing like a relegated team because that is what they are. The match finishes goalless, largely thanks to the Belles' goalkeeper, Nicola Hobbs.
However, as Sarah points out, at least Doncaster will still have a team next season; Lincoln will lose theirs, because their franchise will be shifted across the Trent to become Notts County Ladies.
"Doncaster have one of the best stadiums in the WSL," she said. "Arsenal play at Boreham Wood, Birmingham in Stratford-upon-Avon, Liverpool at Widnes. We have a 15,000-seat stadium. We have eight England internationals. If the decision does not go our way, we could lose all these players.
"The support we have had from every other club has been humbling but I am not optimistic. Sometimes you have to accept tough decisions, but you can't if they are not explained to you." And on the final whistle the banner is taken down and prepared for its next journey.
http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20130521-women-sign-new-deals-830058.aspx
"Charlton saw their application to stay in the second tier of English women’s football turned down by the Football Association so will compete in the third tier – the top tier of the winter pyramid - next term. "
Details of the application:
http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20130304-womens-super-league-application-693824.aspx