The FA has announced that they will disclose the teams with a successful bid for the 2018/19 season on Sunday.
How many teams will get in ?
The FA has already confirmed 10 teams in the FA WSL and seven in the Championship, with a maximum of 14 in the FA WSL and 12 in the Championship that is clearly oversubscribed.
The lateness of the announcement is due to the FA waiting know the name of the third-tier play-off winner in order to see if they fit the criteria for the newly-named second tier – the Championship.
Blackburn and Charlton will fight for the final Championship spot.
The FA have also introduced a new ruling about current FA WSL1&2 teams that fail in their bid to be offered a place in the new Leagues.
Those teams will be demoted two divisions i.e. Sunderland would drop to the third tier – the newly-named FA Women’s National league North, while Oxford and Watford will be sent to the fourth tier – the FA Women’s National League 1, in one of four regional divisions.
This is a hard punishment from the FA.
It seems like they really want to hammer the teams who failed to win a bid and were previously in the FA WSL 1 &2. I mean, those teams get relegated and will lose most of their players. Sending them down two divisions is clearly harsh.
In a way, you can see why the FA would want Sunderland to drop to the Championship if they are not committed to spending the amount of money the FA wants clubs to spend in tier one and two.
Although, forcing clubs to spend hundred of thousand pounds when their turnover is nowhere near that level is driving them to fold if they do not have sufficient back-up from a rich owner or men’s club.
Forcing Oxford and Watford to the fourth tier, if they fail in their bid to get into the Championship, is simply unbelievable. They could have gone into the National League North/South and there is no real reason to demote them to a level lower.
Next, dates announced
The FA has announced the date for the start of the season as well as the transfer window dates.
Because of the World Cup, the season will start early on the 18/19 of August with the Continental Cup fixtures, while League fixtures will start on the 8/9 of September.
The transfer window dates are as follows: 01 June 18 – 09 August 18, then 28 December 18 – 24 Jan 19.
Clubs are already preparing for the new season, especially those who will need reinforcements.
Brighton (managed by Hope Powell), who have been promoted to the FA WSL have started releasing players to make space for better players.
Manchester United are reportedly set to sign Casey Stoney as their manager as they prepare for the life in the Championship.
Rumours going around claim that current and former England players are on their target list, especially those playing in the northern area.
West Ham are also said to be preparing to the jump from the third tier (the FA WPL Southern Division) to the FA WSL.
Karen Ray will return to her General Manager role, while Matt Beard, the former Boston Breakers and Liverpool manager, is close to taking over the job.
Players from the FA WSL1 and foreign players are also said to be on West Ham’s shopping list.
Next, transfer news
Transfer news
Arsenal have announced that Heather O’Reilly has returned home to the USA and she should be followed there by at least four young Arsenal players.
Many Development Team players have been offered scholarships to US Universities, visited the campuses and will play next year in the NCAA.
Another player who is on her way out, or already gone, is Josephine Henning. She has not been seen at a game for a while, but there has been not much information released by the club so far.
In terms of incomings, there is talk of at least one Frauen-Bundesliga coming in and another international player as well.
Considering the small squad that finished the season, there is a need for at least four or five players as not many Development Team players can be promoted.