WPLL responds to reports of WSL changes
WPLL CEO Nikki Doucet reaffirms importance of promotion and relegation but doesn't rule out changes to structure
Nikki Doucet, the chief executive of Women’s Professional Leagues Limited, the organisation in charge of the WSL and Championship, has today spoken to media regarding reports about the future structure of the top two tiers of women’s football in England.
On Sunday night, The Guardian reported that WSL and Championship clubs would be voting on whether to scrap relegation from the WSL at the end of the season as part of a proposal to expand both leagues.
The plans would see relegation postponed from the 2026-27 season until at least 2030, but it’s not a given that relegation would then be re-instated.
Under these proposals, the WSL and Championship (soon to be rebranded back to WSL2) would expand to 16 teams, as a club would be added to the top tier every season. It is also to be decided how clubs would be promoted between the leagues, with a playoff system being considered.
Today, Nikki Doucet spoke to media about the reports. The conversation was wide ranging and covered relegation, promotion, club meetings and fans.
What did we learn about the WPLL’s position on promotion and relegation?
Doucet reaffirmed the WPLL’s commitment to promotion and relegation as a concept, saying that it “makes European football distinctive from other leagues” and “it adds jeopardy and excitement”. She said that promotion and relegation is “critical to the success of our league”. However, the WPLL chief executive did not rule out making changes to promotion and relegation, even if temporarily. When pushed on this specifically she said: “I think promotion and relegation is a really important differentiator and a competitive advantage for our leagues. That's never been in question from our perspective”.
In terms of what other options were being considered, Doucet said: "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."
Doucet told media that there are not currently any proposals in place to be voted on by the WPLL member clubs. “At the moment there is nothing to vote on,” she said, “we are still working through and considering if we do something different, is that the right thing to do or do we stay as we are? We are still working through what that could be. At this stage, there is not a proposal that is in a stage for voting. It is not ready, if there was one.”
Doucet said that all the WSL and Championship’s 23 member clubs were aligned on their philosophy for promotion and relegation in the WSL and that there was agreement “that it’s part of the culture and part of the jeopardy and excitement in the game.”
The Cutback understands that there will not be any official update on proposals until after they are approved. Any changes to the WSL or Championship structure for the 2026-27 season would need to be approved by the FA board by 1 August.
Much like the Premier League, the FA has a ‘golden share’ in the WPLL which grants the body veto rights and also a portion of revenues once thresholds are met, to reinvest in grassroots women's and girls' football projects.
Mark Bullingham, chief executive of the FA, told reporters today that the FA would vote against any proposal that would make the WSL a “closed league”.
He said: “I think that over the last few years we've been asked a few times about whether we would accept a closed league and our response has always been no. The reason for that is not just a moral one, from a sporting point of view, but we actually don't think in the long-term it's smart commercially because you end up with a lot of dead rubbers.
“However, we think that some of the ideas that have been put forward are worth considering, on the proviso that there's still promotion into the league. 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 – and 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, then we could potentially be supportive. But we need to look at that overall package.”
Will fans be consulted on any potential changes?
The WPLL has an existing relationship with the Football Supporters’ Association and Holly Murdoch, WPLL chief operating officer, said that fan groups will be part of the consultation but she reiterated that there was currently “not a proposal to consult on”.
She added: “When that proposal is in a place where we can consult, there will be informal and formal consultation that will have to go on so we can make sure we take everyone on the journey. The governance process is vigorous. We are working really closely with the FA on that and as the concept develops, we will go through those processes.”
Doucet said initial fan reaction to the reports of structural changes, including the launch of an online petition, hasn’t changed the WPLL’s plans: "I would say our perspective or analysis hasn't changed. We have been very thoughtful around the analysis of the different possibilities around us. We just wanted to make sure we had clarity and to say what we have right now."
In a statement to The Cutback, the FSA chair Chris Paouros said: "We have yet to see the detailed proposals, although we have read the media reports, and our affiliated supporters' groups are very keen to discuss the issues with the WPLL.
"Any ideas must have the good of the wider game at their heart, and a central part of that is the ability for clubs to rise up through the pyramid on the back of on-field success. Supporters want to see sporting integrity and competitive leagues, our match-going members have a lot to say on these matters, and serious consultation is vital."
What now?
Well, it’s still quite unclear. The WPLL has looked to assure fans and stakeholders that any plans to change the WSL and Championship are still early in their conception, despite The Guardian’s reports that there is to be a vote held at the end of the season on proposed structural changes.
Really useful update, thanks! Perhaps the WPLL should take this week’s reporting and responses to reflect that they could do a better job when it comes to transparency. I’m still a bit concerned, based on this update, that the approach will be that the WPLL draws up a proposal in a relatively closed process and then aims to get people on board with what they have essentially pre-decided.
(I work in the public sector where public consultation works a bit differently, and I’d argue for good reason. You might have a preferred option but you still generally have to consult widely on it before you make your proposal - which incidentally does help stakeholders buy into the process)
I’d be onboard with a two up one down approach for a few seasons until we have reached 16 or however many teams is the right number in WSL, and two up from each premier division etc (I can’t get my head around the maths without sitting down with pen and paper, but you get my drift!) which could see some teams in those lower divisions start more investment.
I can’t see the current WSL teams being encouraged to invest more if they have no jeopardy, if they already can’t be bothered to do more than the bare minimum. If they wanted to they would, as the saying goes.