Burnley have now gone full time and have applied to take Blackburn’s spot in the WSL2
I'm certainly not going to criticise them for trying their luck. And I'd definitely rather have them in the division than play with 11 again. I suspect Sheffield United will get first refusal though, and if Burnley were going to be considered the FA ought to consider a club that finished higher than 4th and had already applied during the season - Hashtag United being the obvious candidate, second in the southern division.
So Sheffield United stays. I think at this point jut having a functioning Women's side will qualify you for the WSL.2
Hi all, I'm looking for some help from fans of Charlton Athletic Women.
I'm a publisher and writer, currently preparing an illustrated fan yearbook covering the leading women's teams in the UK. It's designed to introduce new supporters to their local club, give a bit of background on the matchday experience, fan culture and history. I want to give a really positive write-up to every team featured, and be as representative as possible of existing supporters' views and perspectives. I've had a pretty good response from fans of most WSL and WSL2 teams, but as yet I haven't had anything from Charlton fans.
I would be so grateful if two or three of you would be willing to take a few minutes to complete this online questionnaire (and maybe ask two or three match-going family or friends if they would too):
There will be a namecheck in the book for everyone who responds, and the first five from every team will get a free copy of the book when it's published.
Yep, as it's only 25/26 where two teams go up automatically, with the possibility of a third - after that, one team will be promoted and one relegated, with a play-off between second-bottom in the WSL and second in WSL2
We currently have 5 contracted players, plus 11 offered contracts. Surely not all of those will sign. That creates a huge opportunity to invest and upgrade.
We currently have 5 contracted players, plus 11 offered contracts. Surely not all of those will sign. That creates a huge opportunity to invest and upgrade.
That will cost more money, does that then come from the men`s team budget or from more borrowing from the owners.
We currently have 5 contracted players, plus 11 offered contracts. Surely not all of those will sign. That creates a huge opportunity to invest and upgrade.
That will cost more money, does that then come from the men`s team budget or from more borrowing from the owners.
That's for the owners to decide but I would hope they'd put their hand in their pockets. Promotion opens up huge commercial opportunities. On top of that, a home game against Arsenal or Chelsea could probably triple our standard gates. Of course players then need to be paid more too. But if the club aren't in it for promotion and success then what's the point?
Top 2 automatically up and 3rd play in a playoff against the bottom WSL team.
Would have been promoted already if this happened in the last couple of seasons. Need to make it count this year
This feels to me like that start of no relegation by stealth. Sometimes the worst team in the WSL really stinks the place out but there can be a huge gap between a team who have been able to invest in better players with WSL money and the one finishing third in the second division. We got slapped around fairly convincingly by Palace in a cup game this season and I think this is their first attempt at pulling up the drawbridge like they've already suggested
We currently have 5 contracted players, plus 11 offered contracts. Surely not all of those will sign. That creates a huge opportunity to invest and upgrade.
That will cost more money, does that then come from the men`s team budget or from more borrowing from the owners.
That's for the owners to decide but I would hope they'd put their hand in their pockets. Promotion opens up huge commercial opportunities. On top of that, a home game against Arsenal or Chelsea could probably triple our standard gates. Of course players then need to be paid more too. But if the club aren't in it for promotion and success then what's the point?
Like 95% of our supporters, I hope they solely invest their money in the men's team.
Top 2 automatically up and 3rd play in a playoff against the bottom WSL team.
Would have been promoted already if this happened in the last couple of seasons. Need to make it count this year
This feels to me like that start of no relegation by stealth. Sometimes the worst team in the WSL really stinks the place out but there can be a huge gap between a team who have been able to invest in better players with WSL money and the one finishing third in the second division. We got slapped around fairly convincingly by Palace in a cup game this season and I think this is their first attempt at pulling up the drawbridge like they've already suggested
From 26/27 its a play off against second bottom with the bottom team going down automatically, which I think is better
We currently have 5 contracted players, plus 11 offered contracts. Surely not all of those will sign. That creates a huge opportunity to invest and upgrade.
That will cost more money, does that then come from the men`s team budget or from more borrowing from the owners.
That's for the owners to decide but I would hope they'd put their hand in their pockets. Promotion opens up huge commercial opportunities. On top of that, a home game against Arsenal or Chelsea could probably triple our standard gates. Of course players then need to be paid more too. But if the club aren't in it for promotion and success then what's the point?
Like 95% of our supporters, I hope they solely invest their money in the men's team.
Would love to see an independent poll on this topic. I think you'd be surprised how many people would want a strong women's team. Why wouldn't you want to have two successful teams at the club?
if it is ‘do you want a successful women’s team’ then the majority would be yes.
If it was ‘do you want money to be diverted from the men’s team to fund/improve the women’s team’ it would be a resounding no.
But most people would know that that isn’t how it works. There will be a budget for both teams but this is an unusual circumstance so the budget should be adjusted. Just as if last season there were randomly 3 auto places the budget should have been adjusted for that
We currently have 5 contracted players, plus 11 offered contracts. Surely not all of those will sign. That creates a huge opportunity to invest and upgrade.
That will cost more money, does that then come from the men`s team budget or from more borrowing from the owners.
That's for the owners to decide but I would hope they'd put their hand in their pockets. Promotion opens up huge commercial opportunities. On top of that, a home game against Arsenal or Chelsea could probably triple our standard gates. Of course players then need to be paid more too. But if the club aren't in it for promotion and success then what's the point?
Like 95% of our supporters, I hope they solely invest their money in the men's team.
Would love to see an independent poll on this topic. I think you'd be surprised how many people would want a strong women's team. Why wouldn't you want to have two successful teams at the club?
I doubt it. Poor crowds despite free tickets for ST's and cheap.admission anyway. No real appetite for it.
Couldn't care less how the women do. Cheers for the pitch upgrade though, so there is one redeeming feature against the continuing expense, taking money away from the men's team.
if it is ‘do you want a successful women’s team’ then the majority would be yes.
If it was ‘do you want money to be diverted from the men’s team to fund/improve the women’s team’ it would be a resounding no.
But most people would know that that isn’t how it works. There will be a budget for both teams but this is an unusual circumstance so the budget should be adjusted. Just as if last season there were randomly 3 auto places the budget should have been adjusted for that
But if there was not a women’s team the money on that budget would go to the men’s team no?
Personally I am ambivalent, will watch England women’s team in the euros but wouldn’t watch Arsenal v Chelsea in the league
that said, I do look at the Charlton women’s results and read this thread although I don’t get any real feeling of loss or disappointment when we lose.
if it is ‘do you want a successful women’s team’ then the majority would be yes.
If it was ‘do you want money to be diverted from the men’s team to fund/improve the women’s team’ it would be a resounding no.
But most people would know that that isn’t how it works. There will be a budget for both teams but this is an unusual circumstance so the budget should be adjusted. Just as if last season there were randomly 3 auto places the budget should have been adjusted for that
But if there was not a women’s team the money on that budget would go to the men’s team no?
Personally I am ambivalent, will watch England women’s team in the euros but wouldn’t watch Arsenal v Chelsea in the league
that said, I do look at the Charlton women’s results and read this thread although I don’t get any real feeling of loss or disappointment when we lose.
I wouldn’t be so sure on the first paragraph. Women’s football is HUGE in the US so I wouldn’t be surprised if the US owners didn’t invest in us at least partly because we have a chance to be part of a large boom over here and make a decent sum of money
Our ownership are collectively worth billions. They work out a budget that they are willing to spend on the men's team and one they are willing to spend on the women's team. The women's team in comparison is a tiny expenditure but regardless our owners if they really wanted to could fund the men's team several times over, they just choose instead to stick to a budget. If you think the women's team takes anything away from what they're willing to spend on the men's team then you need to check the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector.
The owners had the opportunity last season to massively cut the budget while still keeping the team safe from any risk of relegation, given how weak Blackburn, Sheffield and Portsmouth were. The fact that they didn't do that, but instead funded us well enough to be in the mix for the promotion slot again surely has to mean they are willing to pay the extra costs of the WSL if we go up.
The next two seasons represent the best opportunity there's ever likely to be - this season two automatic promotion slots, then next season just the one automatic promotion, but in a division where the two best sides have gone up and no-one came down to replace them. And that's ignoring the playoffs which I'm sure will almost always be won by the WSL side but there's always an outside chance.
Also, quite apart from the benefit for us, this looks like a real positive for the women's game.
We currently have 5 contracted players, plus 11 offered contracts. Surely not all of those will sign. That creates a huge opportunity to invest and upgrade.
That will cost more money, does that then come from the men`s team budget or from more borrowing from the owners.
That's for the owners to decide but I would hope they'd put their hand in their pockets. Promotion opens up huge commercial opportunities. On top of that, a home game against Arsenal or Chelsea could probably triple our standard gates. Of course players then need to be paid more too. But if the club aren't in it for promotion and success then what's the point?
Like 95% of our supporters, I hope they solely invest their money in the men's team.
Would love to see an independent poll on this topic. I think you'd be surprised how many people would want a strong women's team. Why wouldn't you want to have two successful teams at the club?
There are strict limits on how much can be invested in the men's team. It's not a case of one or the other.
We currently have 5 contracted players, plus 11 offered contracts. Surely not all of those will sign. That creates a huge opportunity to invest and upgrade.
That will cost more money, does that then come from the men`s team budget or from more borrowing from the owners.
That's for the owners to decide but I would hope they'd put their hand in their pockets. Promotion opens up huge commercial opportunities. On top of that, a home game against Arsenal or Chelsea could probably triple our standard gates. Of course players then need to be paid more too. But if the club aren't in it for promotion and success then what's the point?
Like 95% of our supporters, I hope they solely invest their money in the men's team.
Would love to see an independent poll on this topic. I think you'd be surprised how many people would want a strong women's team. Why wouldn't you want to have two successful teams at the club?
There are strict limits on how much can be invested in the men's team. It's not a case of one or the other.
That is £13 million per season upto a max of £39 million in 3 seasons.
Top 2 automatically up and 3rd play in a playoff against the bottom WSL team.
Would have been promoted already if this happened in the last couple of seasons. Need to make it count this year
Not quite, however shame it wasn’t introduced this year.
Charlton vs Crystal Palace would have been quite a first play off.
2 seasons ago we finished 1 point behind Crystal Palace, we were runners up in the league. So yes we would have been promoted
Talking about last season, but still ironic. 2 seasons ago we would have gone up with Palace and last season we would have played them in the play off.
What fans who are against Hills have to realise the system has now swung in a way in which she can get us promoted. Hopefully we can get the squad together to do the job.
Comments
Hi all, I'm looking for some help from fans of Charlton Athletic Women.
I'm a publisher and writer, currently preparing an illustrated fan yearbook covering the leading women's teams in the UK. It's designed to introduce new supporters to their local club, give a bit of background on the matchday experience, fan culture and history. I want to give a really positive write-up to every team featured, and be as representative as possible of existing supporters' views and perspectives. I've had a pretty good response from fans of most WSL and WSL2 teams, but as yet I haven't had anything from Charlton fans.
I would be so grateful if two or three of you would be willing to take a few minutes to complete this online questionnaire (and maybe ask two or three match-going family or friends if they would too):
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmzhvKqvDSlKsvtJWsFWCvvUM2BpYwk8fiTHDOBAQ6gAZB-Q/viewform
There will be a namecheck in the book for everyone who responds, and the first five from every team will get a free copy of the book when it's published.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer,
David Moloney
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cqxe751z2z0o
WSL up to 14 teams in 26/27
Top 2 automatically up and 3rd play in a playoff against the bottom WSL team.
Would have been promoted already if this happened in the last couple of seasons. Need to make it count this year
if it is ‘do you want a successful women’s team’ then the majority would be yes.
Couldn't care less how the women do. Cheers for the pitch upgrade though, so there is one redeeming feature against the continuing expense, taking money away from the men's team.
that said, I do look at the Charlton women’s results and read this thread although I don’t get any real feeling of loss or disappointment when we lose.
The next two seasons represent the best opportunity there's ever likely to be - this season two automatic promotion slots, then next season just the one automatic promotion, but in a division where the two best sides have gone up and no-one came down to replace them. And that's ignoring the playoffs which I'm sure will almost always be won by the WSL side but there's always an outside chance.
Also, quite apart from the benefit for us, this looks like a real positive for the women's game.
What fans who are against Hills have to realise the system has now swung in a way in which she can get us promoted.
Hopefully we can get the squad together to do the job.