Blackburn Rovers’ women’s team have been relegated from Women’s Super League 2 (English football’s second tier) after the club decided against meeting the league’s requirements on facilities, player welfare and staffing.
The Lancashire club was given until Monday to state its intention to the Women’s Super League Football (WSL Football) — the organisation in charge of running the top two divisions of English women’s football) — to finance their women’s team’s licensing criteria and retain their tier-two status.
Rovers finished second from bottom in the Championship, rebranded as WSL2 for the 2025-26 season, ahead of relegated Sheffield United.
A meeting with members of the club’s hierarchy took place on Monday May 12 and players and staff were left in limbo since being informed of the situation last Tuesday, May 13. Many within the team were said to be “devastated” by the unfolding situation.
But on Tuesday, they were informed by the club that no financing would be provided.
Regulations for the women’s pyramid state that any club which withdraws from a league can only re‑enter at least two tiers lower. Precedent was set when Reading were relegated to the fifth tier of English football ahead of the 2024-25 season after financial uncertainty and the collapse of an 11th-hour takeover bid.
Compliance and development reviews are standard across the top two tiers and carried out ahead of each new season. Every club is asked by the league to comply with the participation agreement.
Blackburn’s demotion follows on from controversy last summer, during which it was reported their women’s team’s playing budget was constrained to just £100,000 for next season, with their players, who are all semi-professional, receiving salaries of £9,000.
The decision to cut the playing budget incurred fierce criticism. Blackburn have significant pedigree in the women’s game with a strong academy set-up. The club have produced England internationals and Euro 2022 champions Keira Walsh, Ella Toone and Georgia Stanway.
Blackburn’s men’s team finished seventh in the Championship in the most recent season, narrowly missing out on the playoffs.
For the 2023-24 financial year, the club reported a profit of £3.3million. However, without the club-record sale (around £22million including add-ons) of midfielder Adam Wharton to Premier League side Crystal Palace, the figure would have been a £17.2m loss which is similar to 12 months prior.
Blackburn defender Niamh Murphy wrote on social media last week about the possibility of relegation: “I have been a Blackburn player for three seasons and the only consistency there has been is the lack of financial support from the club.
“Whilst this season may not look successful to others, we have once again avoided relegation despite having the smallest budget. This is a huge success and a credit to the women’s players and staff.
“This group has worked relentlessly hard all season for so little reward. We all earn less than a liveable wage, with many players having to live away from home whilst also having to work other jobs to survive, and this is what we get in return.”
(Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)