Latest women’s football news

Sue Smith: Save Leeds Carnegie!

Thursday 4th February 2010
from Yorkshire Evening Post - click here to follow on Twitter
by Polly C

Sue Smith admits Leeds Carnegie Ladies' crest-fallen players are devastated at the shock decision not to apply for the new FA Super League – amid fears the club could fold in the future.

Leeds Metropolitan University, which took over the running of the club two years ago, dropped the bombshell which reduced stunned players to tears after Sunday’s 4-1 Women’s FA Cup victory over Watford.

Carnegie, one of the success stories in women’s football in recent years, were widely expected to gain one of eight places in the new look league which will launch next summer.

But after submitting a bid, the university has controversially withdrawn the application, with clubs due to make their presentations for entry this week.

And while Leeds Met has pledged to support the club for the rest of the season – with the team taking on Everton Ladies in the Premier League Cup final on February 11 – its long-term future is uncertain following the stunning development, with players and officials left high and dry.

Leeds and England star and YEP columnist Smith, who attended a players' crisis meeting last night, said: “We’re totally devastated, to be honest. We were really looking forward to being a part of Super League with Leeds Carnegie.

“We played our game on Sunday, won 4-1 and were buzzing and were then told the university was retracting its bid to join Super League.

“I think we were probably one of the safest to come through with the university backing and the fact we have a pitch.

“The worst part is the timing and having no time to do anything about it. To tell us at such short notice is not very nice and a lot of the girls are shocked and gutted and a little bit angry really.

“I've played here for eight years and don’t want to move to another team to be part of Super League.

“The disappointing part is that it’s been going so well this season, it’s probably one of the best teams I've played in. We've seven internationals and have got the League Cup final coming up and are still in the FA Cup and can potentially finish in the top three in the league.

“Hopefully, there will be time to still do something; whether there is, I don’t know.

“Fair enough, if they haven’t got enough money, it’s up to them. But they could have told us a little sooner.”

Former club chairperson Melanie Vauvelle added: “The Super League bid started 18 months ago, then it got postponed and this particular bid has been going on in the last six months, if not longer.

“If this news had come out four or five months ago, the club could have sought help externally. Why have the university made this decision at this late stage?”

A university statement said: “The university cannot commit to the substantial increase in budgets.”

Original estimates of annual running costs for Super League clubs were thought to be around £140,000-per-year, with the FA supplying half the funding.

But clubs have reportedly since been told they will have to fork out on players salaries as well, with annual budgets likely to be nearer £250,000, which is deemed unaffordable.

« Back to all news