WSL chief: relegation may be suspended, but never scrapped | OneFootball

The CEO of the Women’s Super League and Championship has ruled out the complete scrapping of promotion and relegation but did not deny they are exploring a relegation pause as part of league expansion plans.

As revealed in the Guardian, one of the options being explored by the body responsible for the professional women’s game, Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), is a four-year pause of relegation to grow the top two divisions to 16 teams each.

Looking to quell discontent over promotion and relegation being under threat, WPLL’s CEO, Nikki Doucet, said: “We believe promotion and relegation is a great thing. It makes English football distinctive from other leagues. It adds jeopardy and excitement. It’s something we all love about the game of football and that has never been under question. We fundamentally believe promotion and relegation is an important differentiator and an important competitive advantage for us, relative to other women’s sport leagues globally.”

Doucet added that there was a desire to “make sure that our league works for club investors to allow more investment in the game” but that that would not “change our core principles”.

She also said they “wouldn’t be doing our job properly” if they did not consider and review all available options. “Our mission is to build the most distinctive, competitive and entertaining women’s football competition in the world for the players and the fans for today and tomorrow,” she said. “That is one that also supports the entire pyramid.”

Doucet, asked whether the backlash on social media against possible changes to promotion and relegation had changed their perspective, said that it had not and the chief operating officer, Holly Murdoch, said they would canvass fan opinion through more formal channels.

“Absolutely the fan groups will be part of consultation,” said Murdoch. “What we are talking about today is that we haven’t yet got a proposal to consult on. We are still looking at concepts and options. When that proposal is in a place where we can consult, there will be informal and formal consultation 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.”

The clubs are due to vote at the end of the season on whether to scrap relegation. But the decision is not totally in the hands of WPLL, with any changes to pyramid regulations for the 2026-27 season needing Football Association board approval by 1 August.

The FA’s chief executive, Mark Bullingham, said the governing body would “100% not accept a closed league”. He said: “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.”

Further details of what is on the table have been elusive, with WPLL unwilling to disclose what is on the agenda or discussed during private shareholder meetings or expand on possible options being put forward.

Header image: [Photograph: Rhianna Chadwick/PA]