WSL: Could relegation be scrapped to expand the league?
Representatives from all 23 clubs from the WSL and Women’s Championship participated in the quarterly meeting last Friday.
One of the topics discussed is the suggestion of temporarily canceling the relegation in WSL, but still allowing a club to get promotions from the second level.
The idea is that expanding the league will improve competitiveness, while clubs will be stable – in turn, encourage long-term investment.
The two-tier club will need a two-thirds majority vote in May to make changes.
according to guardian,,,,,, External Starting with the 2026-27 campaign, the relegation will be abandoned for four seasons, as part of a step-by-step plan to expand top flights and championships to 16 teams.
Sources told BBC Sport that several clubs in the second half of WSL support the idea because they think it will give them a better chance to compete in the future.
In recent seasons, the promoted champion club will need to immediately spend at least £2 million to provide the necessary infrastructure, staffing requirements and player salary to comply with the WSL’s “participation agreement”.
Crystal Palace is currently hovering four points on the base of the WSL table, meaning clubs that have been promoted from the championship game can be relegated for the first time in a row since last season Bristol City.
Meanwhile, the club has a higher source of information – not yet in the top four – believes that if their future in WSL is safe, it could encourage owners to invest more in elite facilities and girls’ academy.
Due to this stability, the club may offer more long-term player contracts and salaries.
However, those who oppose the idea think it is against the fundamental values ​​of British football and there may be risks for clubs to ignore the female team because there is no danger of relegation.
Manchester City Manager Gareth Taylor said he wanted to “keep it simple.”
He added: “Promotion and relegation will always be what supporters and teams have to do. I think it’s really hard to get rid of.”
