WELCOME NEWS FROM THE FA BUT, IS IT ENOUGH? 

Both FA Women's National League Premier Division champions will be promoted to the Championship from the 2023/24 season with two clubs being relegated. Despite this welcome news there's still no growth of the leagues. 

As per the announcement yesterday the one up, one down policy between the top two tiers will remain and all divisions will remain at twelve teams per division. Over the last decade there has been phenomenal growth in the women's game, not just in England, and that has exploded in the build up and since England's excellent run to UEFA Euros trophy. Investment from outside sources is at an unprecedented high and increased participation at all levels so, is it not about time we began to grow the leagues? 

To maintain a workable league schedule around international matches and cup competitions there's no reason the top two tiers can't sustain thirty teams. With the announcement that both FAWNL Premier Division champions will be promoted, two teams will also be relegated. This seems to me to be the perfect opportunity to grow the leagues one team per season - as has been done in the past - with only one side relegated. Once the Championship reaches fourteen, the WSL can begin its expansion to sixteen which will maintain sustainability of clubs and the leagues. In ten years there can be a move towards merging the Northern and Southern divisions into a national division and create an additional tier in the pyramid. 

To maintain the game's integrity clubs should only promoted and relegated on merit and not licence applications. Introducing a play-off between the Championship's second place finishers and the WSL's second-bottom side would make an interesting and fair finale which offers a lifeline to both sides. 

There remains an issue over prize money. With the sums of money now coming into the game there should be an increased prize pot allowing clubs to be more self sustaining without having to rely so heavily on funds from affiliated teams where there are such teams. It would also make it more even and fair for independent clubs with no men's side to back them. 

There has been so much work behind the scenes for years and an immense amount has been achieved but, there's still such a long way to go. We should never stop demanding more and better. We're being noticed and we should use that as a platform to continue to improve. 

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