READING WOMEN will go part-time following the team losing their battle for WSL survival at the end of last season.
The Royals were relegated to the second tier in May after a run of 17 losses from 22 WSL games.
PAReading are switching to a part-time operating model following their drop into the Women’s Championship[/caption]
GettyKelly Chambers’ Royals’ side were relegated from the WSL following their loss to Chelsea on the final day of last season[/caption]
The club says the financial commitments needed for their women’s side to meet FA requirements has “grown exponentially in recent years”.
They also stated their relegation from the WSL will “result in a significant drop in broadcast fees and central funding from the FA”.
Last term the Royals accrued 11 points from three wins and two draws with the team returning to the Women’s Championship for first time since 2015
And their drop followed Reading’s men’s side’s relegation to League One following a six-point deduction in April after a breach of EFL financial rules.
Before their relegation the Royals had been the only team in the Women’s Super League who were not affiliated to a Premier League club.
In a statement published on their web site Reading said their owner Dai Yongge has been funding the former WSL outfit from his own pocket since 2018.
They say the Chinese businessman “needed to provide just under £1million to finance” the women’s team last season.
Yongge was also stated to have personally invested £6million in the WSL outfit since 2018.
Royals CEO Dayong Pang said: “Difficult but necessary financial decisions are being made across the business following the club’s relegation to League One last season.
“After discussions with the FA, the decision to operate Reading FC Women on a part-time basis represents the most viable solution at the present time
“We would like to acknowledge all of the hard work and unquestionable dedication to Reading Football Club of Kelly Chambers and her coaching staff, the players and all the staff.
“The club will now be working extremely hard to build a team to proudly represent our town in the WSL Championship in the 2023-24 campaign.”
A number of WSL stars past and present have been reacting the news with dismay.
In a tweet published today Lionesses legend Fara Williams stated she was “gutted for staff and players”.
The midfielder, now a pundit who made 67 Royals appearances, also wrote she was “devastated” to see this happen to her former side.