Women’s football needs more jeopardy – ending WSL relegation could deter fans | Kelly Simmons | OneFootball

The Guardian broke the news last week that the Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) is in discussions with its 24 member clubs in the top two tiers of the English women’s pyramid to make significant changes in the size and structure of both divisions.

The proposal includes expanding the divisions from 12 to 16 teams over a four-year period, starting from 2026-27, by continuing to promote one team into the Women’s Super League but freezing relegation for at least four seasons to enable the expansion.

WPLL and its member clubs are right to consider expansion and competition format. The top two tiers have been at 12 teams for a number of years to concentrate talent and ensure the product is of the highest quality. As attendances grow and match-day revenues become an increasingly important part of the overall business plan, clubs and fans need more guaranteed home games. These additional fixtures could be accommodated by changing the format of the League Cup – eliminating the tedious group stages and moving to a straight knockout would make it much more exciting for supporters.

In considering expansion, there also needs to be thoughtful dialogue between the league, clubs and the Football Association to consider the quality and size of the playing pool and if this is indeed large enough to accommodate 32 fully professional clubs. Uefa’s recent announcement supporting the growth of six fully professional women’s leagues in Europe will put further pressure on this pool.

The WPLL faces two challenges. First, an under-invested academy system and second, a rigid governing body endorsement criteria that restricts overseas players. The FA has established tougher criteria for overseas entry into the women’s game, in good faith to allow much needed space for English talent. But it prevents clubs from sourcing the best young global talent to build a competitive squad because that young talent will not meet the high threshold. These expansion proposals cannot be looked at in isolation from the need to invest in developing and accessing world-class players that can entertain and thrill the fanbase.

The most controversial element of the proposal, which has triggered a widespread backlash, is the suspension of relegation from the WSL for at least four years This goes against the principles of the pyramid and the culture and heritage of English football. Competition by its very nature means winners and losers but there would be no losers in the WSL.

The rationale for proposing this is that it will incentivise clubs to invest, making the WSL more competitive and putting the game on a sustainable footing. There is no doubt the league needs to become more competitive; there is a clear top four and many clubs are well off the pace. If the proposal came with a transparent set of criteria that forced greater investment in the guise of minimum salaries, academy investment, enhanced stadiums and marketing the bitter “closure” pill may be easier to swallow for a short period. Without it, the league could inadvertently drive a culture of complacency and mediocrity in clubs, knowing that they cannot be relegated.

My biggest concern about freezing relegation is the effect this will have on fan interest and engagement. Since I left the FA, I’ve been advising the top women’s professional leagues across the world and one area under careful consideration is for the competition format to drive as much interest and jeopardy as possible. A league with no relegation renders the majority of its fixtures meaningless.

Fans would still avidly follow the top of the table to see who is going to be champions and secure the three Women’s Champions League spots but that is where the interest would end. Most clubs are not realistically in the mix for the top three, resulting in them playing an entire season of dead rubbers. Who would tune into Crystal Palace v Aston Villa, a bottom of the table clash, except the most ardent fan, knowing it did not matter? We know from research that games with nothing resting on it produce the lowest attendances and audiences.

When the league and its member clubs have determined on the right structure, any changes to promotion and relegation will need to go to the FA board. The FA will be nervous of any precedents being set and will be aware that the 32 clubs will be serving their own interests. The FA’s role is to consider the best interests of the whole women’s game and that needs to be brought to bear before a big decision like this.

In a month when the FA is consulting on WSL and Championship B teams playing within tier four of the pyramid to improve the quality of games for our best young players, it would be heartening to see a joined-up pyramid vision and plan coming forward that meets the needs of the future game.

I would like to see more jeopardy built into the new structure by increasing promotion and relegation between the leagues. As the two divisions expand, it is an ideal opportunity to increase the movement between the WSL and Championship and a new promotion playoff format in the Championship from second to fifth would create significant interest and excitement.

Fan consultation, involving the Football Supporters’ Association and fan clubs, is essential in shaping the future. If we truly put fans at the heart of the proposals and think through what will keep us all on the edge of our seats until the final day of the season we might come up with different solutions.

Kelly Simmons is a consultant for Run Communications’ women’s sport division Run x and former director of the women’s professional game at the FA

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