Also to add that CAST are engaging with the club more now on the development of the women's game/ team. The CAST constitution was changed at the AGM several years back to ensure the definition of "club" clearly encompassed both men's and women's. Recently Charlton were using a line that the club invests more as a % of turnover in the women than any other club - CAST pointed out the flaw in this statistic - our turnover is low because the men are in League One and it isn't right to frame our investment in CAFCW based on the success or otherwise of the men.
Gavin is right that there are plenty of challenges around the financing and development of the women's game - hopefully these will become opportunities and Charlton will be in the thick of it.
Here's another graphic of the new look:
While I don't really have a problem with the club pointing out that we manage to fund a competitive side against clubs like Newcastle, Sunderland and Southampton while having a much lower overall budget available, I think Durham and Lionesses would have grounds for objecting that they by definition put in 100% of their clubs' budgets. The same would be true for the independent clubs who used to be Cardiff (at tier 3) and Orient (at tier 4), both of which are now completely independent.
Rumours that Blackburns owners are withdrawing funding, and the team only have a week or so to secure alternative funding. Otherwise they may have to pull out of WSL2, similar to what Reading did before the start of last season. Will be interested if it does happen what they do. Do they allow Sheffield United to stay up, or do the same as this season and only have 1 down 2 up again.
Rumours that Blackburns owners are withdrawing funding, and the team only have a week or so to secure alternative funding. Otherwise they may have to pull out of WSL2, similar to what Reading did before the start of last season. Will be interested if it does happen what they do. Do they allow Sheffield United to stay up, or do the same as this season and only have 1 down 2 up again.
I reckon it depends on when it happens. If they pull out now pretty much, there's time to amend it.
I think Reading pulled out quite late on and that's what made last season an anomaly with the odd number of teams
Probably says something about the difficulty in making enormous bundles of money out of property development as well as the popularity of the women's football. It could turn out to be a really good move for Everton.
Rumours that Blackburns owners are withdrawing funding, and the team only have a week or so to secure alternative funding. Otherwise they may have to pull out of WSL2, similar to what Reading did before the start of last season. Will be interested if it does happen what they do. Do they allow Sheffield United to stay up, or do the same as this season and only have 1 down 2 up again.
This division is a big problem for any club that suddenly loses funding, because of the rule requiring clubs to be at least part-time professional. There's a limit to how low the budget can be, so clubs don't have the option of playing a season on zero budget, getting relegated and regrouping at a lower level like we did when our funding was cut in 2007.
Hopefully Blackburn will have time to work out what they can afford and apply for relegation to a suitable level, rather than having to drop all the way to tier 5 like Reading did. If it did come to that, and let's hope not, then the good news for them is that there's been a club withdrawing from the North West division at tier 5 this season, as there was in the Southern region last year, so there will be a space for them to slot into if they need it.
This emphasis`s that outside of the big clubs linked to the big name men`s teams, in the televised WSL there is little support as of the moment for women`s football games. I see Blackburn`s average gate was around 1000 a bit more than Charlton`s. That goes no where near covering the running costs of a professional team and the back room staff or the opening up of stadiums on match day.
Comments
I think Reading pulled out quite late on and that's what made last season an anomaly with the odd number of teams
This is a weird move
The Guardian has a bit more context: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/13/goodison-park-saved-from-bulldozers-with-it-set-to-become-home-of-everton-women
Hopefully Blackburn will have time to work out what they can afford and apply for relegation to a suitable level, rather than having to drop all the way to tier 5 like Reading did. If it did come to that, and let's hope not, then the good news for them is that there's been a club withdrawing from the North West division at tier 5 this season, as there was in the Southern region last year, so there will be a space for them to slot into if they need it.
That goes no where near covering the running costs of a professional team and the back room staff or the opening up of stadiums on match day.
Costs are high.