Wolves Women’s Team Claims Club’s Ambitions are Under Scrutiny After Promotion Bid is Rejected
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The Wolverhampton Wanderers women’s team has expressed devastation and disappointment after learning that their ultimately unsuccessful battle for promotion was “all for nothing”. The team, who compete in the Women’s Premier Division North, finished three points off champions Nottingham Forest, but were informed that the club had already decided not to apply to compete in the Women’s Championship, even if they had achieved promotion.
According to a statement posted on social media by external midfielder Beth Merrick, the players are “absolutely devastated” to finish the season in this way and believe it “speaks volumes about the club’s ambitions for the women’s team”. The statement read: “Imagine fighting for promotion all season to find out our Championship bid was never submitted. As a group we are absolutely devastated to finish the season this way and believe it speaks volumes about the club’s ambitions for the women’s team.”
The Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) and Wolves have been approached for a response to the allegations. The licence criteria to compete in the Women’s Championship encourages further investment and there is an expectation for clubs to build towards a professional model, but there are currently no Wolves players on full-time contracts.
Defender Lily Simkin, who previously played for Women’s Super League (WSL) club Birmingham City, expressed her disappointment, saying that the team “felt let down”. She added: “As a group of staff and players we have been fighting all season and still achieved what some people at the club thought was impossible. We took it to the last day to find out it would have all been for nothing anyway. We deserve better.”
Sources at the club told BBC Sport that players and staff were called into a meeting after their final match with head of women’s football Jenna Burke-Martin and manager Dan McNamara. Some were in tears, one source claimed, as players were informed that they had “played for nothing” and the club “never had any ambition to put a bid in” to play in the Women’s Championship.
The players felt that they had shown they were able to compete on a low budget but had been “lied to” and shown “a lack of respect” by not being made aware of the club’s intentions. There were positive signs last summer as manager McNamara, physio Christos Christofides and physical performance coach Nathan Maxfield were given full-time roles. Three players were also given contracts, but not on a full-time basis.
However, the women’s under-21s squad was scrapped in the summer and it is claimed a number of players are still not paid salaries, only their expenses. Some staff members are unsure about their future at the club because there are question marks over the long-term ambitions.
Supporter and host of The Wolves Women Podcast, Nick Andrews-Gauvain, told BBC Sport: “After what had been such a great day on Sunday – brilliant atmosphere, good football and a win for Wolves – it was devastating to hear the news break that the club didn’t support the players and staff. The club make a big thing about being ‘One Pack’ but this now feels like all spin rather than actually something they buy into. As the game grows, Wolves risk being left behind and it will cost us more in the long run to play catch up.”
The players are due to meet at the club on Tuesday, as originally planned, but have not received communication on what the next steps are. Wolves have submitted applications for the Women’s Championship in previous seasons, losing in a play-off final to Southampton in 2022.
The news has raised questions about the club’s commitment to their women’s team and their ambitions for the future. As the team looks to regroup and move forward, it remains to be seen how the club will respond to the allegations and what the future holds for the Wolves women’s team.
According to BBC Sport, the situation has left the players feeling frustrated and disappointed, and it will be interesting to see how the club addresses these concerns in the coming weeks.
The club’s decision not to apply for the Women’s Championship has been met with criticism from the players and supporters, who feel that the team has the potential to compete at a higher level. As the women’s game continues to grow and develop, it is essential for clubs to have a clear vision and strategy for their women’s teams.
In this case, the players and supporters of Wolves Women feel that the club has fallen short of their expectations, and it will be crucial for the club to communicate effectively with them in the coming weeks to address their concerns and outline their plans for the future.
This story is developing, and BBC Sport will provide updates as more information becomes available.
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