Blackburn Rovers withdraw from Women's Championship

Blackburn Rovers have withdrawn from the Women's Championship next season because club owner Venky's is unwilling to meet the league's requirements on facilities, player welfare and staffing.

In an email sent to players by the club's HR department on Tuesday, seen by BBC Sport, Blackburn say they are in "ongoing discussions with the Football Association (FA) regarding the division we will be competing in" next season.

FA regulations state that any club that withdraws from a league can only re-enter the pyramid at least two tiers below that from which they have withdrawn.

Blackburn's players and staff are unsure of their future, whether they will remain semi-professional or even if their contracts will be renewed.

The deadline to decide if the club wanted to meet the licence requirements and retain their tier-two status was on Monday, 19 May.

The email went on to say: "Due to the minimum standards required at the tiers below the Women's Championship, there is a significant impact on the staffing and playing structure moving forward and so your role may be affected.

"We understand this may be disappointing to read and we aim to communicate which tier we will be operating in once we have this confirmation."

The FA Board and WSL Football - the company overseeing the top two tiers of English women's football - are expected to meet later on Tuesday to discuss the next steps.

In a statement issued after the news broke, Blackburn said:, external "The growing financial and operational constraints tied to tier two status, including the requirement to move to a fully professional model, have reached a point where they can no longer be sustained under the club's current financial framework.

"Key factors influencing this decision include the significant rise in minimum criteria set by the league, including extended contact hours for players and the requirement for a full-time professional contract model, an increase in staffing levels, leading to further escalating wage costs, and a greater strain on training ground and stadium facilities."

Blackburn's withdrawal could mean reinstating relegated Sheffield United, who sources say have held initial conversations around the possibility of their return to the Women's Championship.

WSL Football confirmed its "intention is to ensure" the Women's Championship - renamed WSL 2 from next season - "operates with 12 clubs".

It became clear Blackburn were in a perilous position last week, when players said they were told by a team-mate via WhatsApp that there was a "99% chance the owners will not be financially supporting the team next season".

Defender Niamh Murphy, 22, said: "I have been a Blackburn Rovers 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 some, 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."

The players and staff were awaiting communication from the club at the weekend but sources say a meeting was cancelled on Monday evening and then delayed on Tuesday.

Coaching staff eventually joined a call with the board and HR department at 15:30 BST on Tuesday and following that, manager Simon Parker informed players of the news.

Sources say there is huge "frustration" and "confusion" within the playing group at the lack of transparency from the club.

The majority of the squad are not represented by the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) - the trade union for footballers in England and Wales - but some have been contacted with advice and support.

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