the length and depth of your original and the length and depth of the responses to the piece are indicative of the red tape and less than straight forward path improving the game in this country will involve and require.
worrying about four divisions is admirable and fair & you're also not fixing the top division at the pace that you need to keep up with the world. both things can be true.
A lot of ideas with the focus on the top 4 tiers of the game.To grow and sustain the game at the top.we must do so in the lower tiers as well. Financial sustainability of clubs and the competitions they take part in is key
With a review of women's football under way and regulation of the men's game imminent care is the watchword. As the WSL and Championship become more competitive a gradual increase in numbers will surely follow.
For me increase to 14 of both divisions would be a step forward with an increase to 16 championship clubs in time. Increasing the WSL to 16 is noted but sureley, as these clubs are likely to be involved at the business end of cup competitions it would be a bridge too far? The suggestions for expansion are good. Personally I would favour the idea of promotion relegation play-offs as it would spice up the competition at both ends of the table. I note tiers 1,2 & 3 have been covered but what about the rest? With a daughter who has played her open age football in tiers 5 & 6 the principle of 1 promotion spot is restrictive. In recent seasons teams have gone unbeaten through a regional league season yet not been promoted. A second promotion spot would have rewarded that acheivement.
With Regional and county leagues generally maxing out at 12 teams increasing the promoted teams from 1 to 2 is worthy of consideration with a relegation / promotion play-off to spice up competition at both ends of the table
As for the FA Cup it seems ridiculous to me semi finals aren't played on neutral grounds. Games like these are a showpiece opportunity. Sensible venue selection once the draw is known would surely enhance attendance figures. The changes I would make would be in the early stages of the competion. Using my daughter's FA Cup debut as an example her team, a tier 5 club at the time were drawn in the first preliminary round against a tier 7 side and recorded a double figure score. My suggestion would be to introduce tier 7 sides only to the first preliminary round, bring tier 6 clubs into the second round and tier 5 clubs at the third preliminary round. This would increase prize money opportunities for the lowest ranked clubs and ease fixture congestion on clubs higher up the pyramid.
For me personally, the Conti Cup is over complicated and needs simplification rather than further complication. My suggestions, based on the current 24 team participation are thus:
1. Straight knock out. top 8 teams in the WSL from previous season receive a bye to round 2. This would add a competitive edge to mid table games end of season
or
2.. 8 groups of 3. 2 games, 1 home 1 away. Top 2 teams to go through. Group winners at home in second round. Group games pre season?
There are a lot of suggestions here. It would be OK to agree in principle, but there probably needs to be an understanding of the politics of it all, which requires understanding how we ended up here. Powers and interests have acted to produce what is there now - making it political (not party political although it has become that too with the delays to reviews for reform). I've written on women's football not being sustainable in its current form and that it lacks transparency and independence from men's football. I write on Substack on women's football too at https://andrewdpope.substack.com. I look forward to the ongoing discussion.
I think that's a great place for the wsl and championship, also N&S premier. As you said, last season prime example, Wolves won their league comfortably and then lost out to Southampton, seems unfair. Playoffs would be more exciting in the championship 👏.
I also think it should be compulsory for all championship clubs to be full time to endeavour to ensure the standards of the team are good enough for wsl promotion and increase the overall standards of play. Clubs I think in the championship need to prove that they meet wsl criteria financially and facilities, to be allowed to play in the championship. So overall increasing standards. Also I believe that Premier league players should be allowed to be paid.
I definitely support expanding promotion and relegation. Financial checks are tricky when club finances lack transparency, for example the repeating Manchester City investigations and Newcastle controversy. Any financial criteria check has to bear in mind that owners can disappear - like Saints Women did in 2005 - or be banned like Abramovic - on a whim. There is no sustainability in women's football, as proved by the flimsy "Going Concern" declarations by auditors that are only for the time that return goes to Companies House. So no team has a right to exist. Women's football needs to become more independent of men's football. I hope that it is not too late.
I do have to say that the WSL should be expanded, so we agree there.
Did I read anything (sorry if I missed it) about what happens to promotion/relegation in terms of sides below the WNL??
The Conti Cup should definitely be changed, teams in Europe shouldn't get a bye, and more importantly, as that effects yellow/red cards, how can a team who have gotten a bye, face a team possibly suffering from suspensions in the tournament, perhaps to key players, how on earth is that fair in any way shape or form??
What Chelsea & Arsenal did this season was a complete farce, there is no doubt about that, if I am not mistaken, Manchester United lost fewer matches in 90 minutes in the Conti Cup, then Chelsea, yet we went out in the group stage, and Chelsea made the final, again, where is the fairness??
Neither Arsenal nor Chelsea deserved to be in the final, & Arsenal didn't deseve to be winners of the tournament.
The sponsors need to put more money into the game, if Conti won't, then find someone who will.
Do as Lewes have rightly asked, have the same money in the men's and women's cup competitions, (FA and League Cup).
Also one key factor, visibility, why oh why, are there no round up shows, for both the FA Cup and League Cups on the TV??
There should be round up shows of every single round of the FA Cup and League Cups on the TV, be it on BBC or Sky, or both, heck even the red button at this stage would be a step up!!
There is sooooo much scope for improvement in sooo many areas, and I hope that we can see some of things that you mention, as well as what I have aaud here, happen in the future.
the length and depth of your original and the length and depth of the responses to the piece are indicative of the red tape and less than straight forward path improving the game in this country will involve and require.
worrying about four divisions is admirable and fair & you're also not fixing the top division at the pace that you need to keep up with the world. both things can be true.
A lot of ideas with the focus on the top 4 tiers of the game.To grow and sustain the game at the top.we must do so in the lower tiers as well. Financial sustainability of clubs and the competitions they take part in is key
With a review of women's football under way and regulation of the men's game imminent care is the watchword. As the WSL and Championship become more competitive a gradual increase in numbers will surely follow.
For me increase to 14 of both divisions would be a step forward with an increase to 16 championship clubs in time. Increasing the WSL to 16 is noted but sureley, as these clubs are likely to be involved at the business end of cup competitions it would be a bridge too far? The suggestions for expansion are good. Personally I would favour the idea of promotion relegation play-offs as it would spice up the competition at both ends of the table. I note tiers 1,2 & 3 have been covered but what about the rest? With a daughter who has played her open age football in tiers 5 & 6 the principle of 1 promotion spot is restrictive. In recent seasons teams have gone unbeaten through a regional league season yet not been promoted. A second promotion spot would have rewarded that acheivement.
With Regional and county leagues generally maxing out at 12 teams increasing the promoted teams from 1 to 2 is worthy of consideration with a relegation / promotion play-off to spice up competition at both ends of the table
As for the FA Cup it seems ridiculous to me semi finals aren't played on neutral grounds. Games like these are a showpiece opportunity. Sensible venue selection once the draw is known would surely enhance attendance figures. The changes I would make would be in the early stages of the competion. Using my daughter's FA Cup debut as an example her team, a tier 5 club at the time were drawn in the first preliminary round against a tier 7 side and recorded a double figure score. My suggestion would be to introduce tier 7 sides only to the first preliminary round, bring tier 6 clubs into the second round and tier 5 clubs at the third preliminary round. This would increase prize money opportunities for the lowest ranked clubs and ease fixture congestion on clubs higher up the pyramid.
For me personally, the Conti Cup is over complicated and needs simplification rather than further complication. My suggestions, based on the current 24 team participation are thus:
1. Straight knock out. top 8 teams in the WSL from previous season receive a bye to round 2. This would add a competitive edge to mid table games end of season
or
2.. 8 groups of 3. 2 games, 1 home 1 away. Top 2 teams to go through. Group winners at home in second round. Group games pre season?
There are a lot of suggestions here. It would be OK to agree in principle, but there probably needs to be an understanding of the politics of it all, which requires understanding how we ended up here. Powers and interests have acted to produce what is there now - making it political (not party political although it has become that too with the delays to reviews for reform). I've written on women's football not being sustainable in its current form and that it lacks transparency and independence from men's football. I write on Substack on women's football too at https://andrewdpope.substack.com. I look forward to the ongoing discussion.
I think that's a great place for the wsl and championship, also N&S premier. As you said, last season prime example, Wolves won their league comfortably and then lost out to Southampton, seems unfair. Playoffs would be more exciting in the championship 👏.
I also think it should be compulsory for all championship clubs to be full time to endeavour to ensure the standards of the team are good enough for wsl promotion and increase the overall standards of play. Clubs I think in the championship need to prove that they meet wsl criteria financially and facilities, to be allowed to play in the championship. So overall increasing standards. Also I believe that Premier league players should be allowed to be paid.
I definitely support expanding promotion and relegation. Financial checks are tricky when club finances lack transparency, for example the repeating Manchester City investigations and Newcastle controversy. Any financial criteria check has to bear in mind that owners can disappear - like Saints Women did in 2005 - or be banned like Abramovic - on a whim. There is no sustainability in women's football, as proved by the flimsy "Going Concern" declarations by auditors that are only for the time that return goes to Companies House. So no team has a right to exist. Women's football needs to become more independent of men's football. I hope that it is not too late.
Thanks for all of this Rich.....
Very in depth, and a lot to think about for sure.
I do have to say that the WSL should be expanded, so we agree there.
Did I read anything (sorry if I missed it) about what happens to promotion/relegation in terms of sides below the WNL??
The Conti Cup should definitely be changed, teams in Europe shouldn't get a bye, and more importantly, as that effects yellow/red cards, how can a team who have gotten a bye, face a team possibly suffering from suspensions in the tournament, perhaps to key players, how on earth is that fair in any way shape or form??
What Chelsea & Arsenal did this season was a complete farce, there is no doubt about that, if I am not mistaken, Manchester United lost fewer matches in 90 minutes in the Conti Cup, then Chelsea, yet we went out in the group stage, and Chelsea made the final, again, where is the fairness??
Neither Arsenal nor Chelsea deserved to be in the final, & Arsenal didn't deseve to be winners of the tournament.
The sponsors need to put more money into the game, if Conti won't, then find someone who will.
Do as Lewes have rightly asked, have the same money in the men's and women's cup competitions, (FA and League Cup).
Also one key factor, visibility, why oh why, are there no round up shows, for both the FA Cup and League Cups on the TV??
There should be round up shows of every single round of the FA Cup and League Cups on the TV, be it on BBC or Sky, or both, heck even the red button at this stage would be a step up!!
There is sooooo much scope for improvement in sooo many areas, and I hope that we can see some of things that you mention, as well as what I have aaud here, happen in the future.