The boss of Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), Nikki Doucet, refused Thursday to exclude information that the League is considering modifications to promotion and relegation, adding that the fans’ backlash has not changed his opinion on the question.
Sources have declared to ESPN that, as part of a number of proposals made by the WPLL at the Women’s Super League (WSL) and the championship clubs, the implementation of the relegation of the 2026-20 season
The project would see the relegation interrupted for a certain number of seasons, but the promotion of the championship would remain, which means that the WSL would develop by a team each season. There would also be no relegation of the championship.
Although Doucet said that it believed that “promotion and relegation are a great thing,” saying that this adds “danger and excitement” to the League, the former Canadian investment banker did not exclude modifying the structure of the league in order to consider “all the possibilities of accelerating growth”.
“We fundamentally believe that promotion and relegation is an important differentiating and an important competitive advantage for us, compared to the sports leagues of other women in the world,” she told journalists on Thursday.
However, when she was pressed further on her opinion on the importance of promotion and relegation and that means that fans can exclude the possibility that relegation is abandoned, Doucet said: “I think it is a really important differentializer and a competitive advantage for our leagues, and I think that has never been in question from our point of view.”
Sources have declared to ESPN that certain clubs, in particular at the lower end of the WSL, were in favor of stopping relegation to allow them to invest without fear of falling. Certain clubs of the upper end of the championship are also open to exploring the idea with others further in the table concerned by the Gulf of expenses.
A source told ESPN that clubs like London City Lionesses and Birmingham City work with higher budgets than certain WSL clubs, far from certain championship clubs whose budget is significantly smaller.
Last season, the team promoted Bristol City was relegated after a season, and Crystal Palace – which has the support of a Premier League team – faces the same fate as five points at the drift of 11th place has only been in the elite for six months.
Other ESPN sources have raised fears that the abolition of relegation has an opposite effect on investment and can allow clubs to reduce investments. Some clubs work with “very strict budgets”, said a source, and that the abolition of the danger of relegation can see clubs to completely reduce investments.
We asked Doucet if there would be a minimum investment set for clubs as part of the new proposals that would increase expenses as well as the leveling of the Gulf between clubs.
“When we think of the way we grow in the right way and the improvements that we think we must see through the games in players ‘experiences, fans experiences and players’ way, I think there are obviously participation agreements in WSL and female championship clubs and they have to meet certain requirements.
After the initial reports of the potential relegation, the fans went to social networks to express indignation, some even made a petition to try to prevent the WPLL from enforcing the decision. Thursday, he has 1,414 signatures.
The former director general of Nike said that the negative response of fans had not changed her perception of the idea.
“I would say that our point of view or our analysis has not changed,” she said. “We were very thoughtful in the analysis of the different possibilities that surround us. We just wanted to make sure that we have clarity and say what we have at the moment.”
However, Doucet also said that the League explored options that would benefit all stakeholders, including fans, with another WPLL spokesperson adding that the Football Supporters Association would be consulted, both officially and informally on the proposals.
Doucet refused to share the details of the proposals, saying that it would be “irresponsible” to do so. One source told ESPN that a vote had been scheduled for the end of this season.
“For the moment, there is nothing on which to vote on,” added Doucet. “We always work and consider if we do something different, is it the right thing to do or are we as we are?” We always work through what it could be.
“At this point, there is no proposal that is a step to vote. It is not ready, if there was one.”
Doucet suggested that no change has been officially decided to modify the structure of the competition and remove the relegation of the female game, but also insisted that nothing was outside the table because the company – which are only six months in their mandate – wish to explore all the options that could accelerate growth.
