There were numerous doubts and issues about the women’s game since football was postponed in England in mid-March, Goal.com reports.
In April, FIFPro published a paper coping with the consequences that the coronavirus pandemic will have for women’s football. Two words ‘existential threat’, quickly jumped off the page.
Reading recently became the first club to furlough a women’s squad into the elite Women’s Super League. Also, the number of semi-professional competition teams have gone down the same path – with others topping up the salary too.
Additional assistance may be obtained from business grants and, with match-day extra expenses such as accommodation, minibuses, gas, catering and more on hold, it leaves certain clubs in far stronger positions than one would originally expect – particularly with many women’s clubs working quite carefully as it is.
AFC Fylde also recently declared the dismantling of their women’s side. Their women’s team had competed in the third tier since 2016 under the club’s tag.
The announcement comes only one month after the club released a statement saying: “Please be in no hesitations that AFC Fylde is fully dedicated to its women’s squad and will ensure it stays a part of the community.”
All in all, the future for women’s soccer in England is starting to look pretty dim now.
