Wolves Women’s team devastated’ club did not apply for promotion with players informed after final game of their season.
Wolves Women’s team have expressed disappointment at their club’s lack of drive after finding out that, despite the team competing against Nottingham Forest for the top spot all season, an application for promotion to the Women’s Championship was not filed.
On Sunday, Wolves placed second in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division, the northern division of the third division in English women’s football. They were three points behind Forest, who secured promotion to the second division on the last day of play. Promotion was limited to one team.
Following their 6-0 victory over the Liverpool Feds at home on Sunday, the players were told at a team meeting that although Wolves had fulfilled all the requirements to play second-tier football, the club had not applied.
When approached on Monday, Wolves declined to comment on the issue.
Beth Merrick described the situation as “crazy”, before the midfielder said: “Imagine fighting for promotion all season, to find out our Championship bid was never submitted. As a group we are absolutely devastated to finish the season this way and believe it speaks volumes about the club’s ambitions for the women’s team. For our staff to have to deliver this news to us moments after is astonishing.
“Our players, staff and fans deserve so much better. The staff have put in hours of dedication, for a bid to never be submitted. It’s not about money, it’s about honesty and transparency.”
Prior to the official deadline for submitting a second-tier application, which was February 21, third-tier clubs who were interested in applying for a second-tier licence to be prepared for promotion based on their final league position had until December 20, 2024, to indicate their intention to apply.
A head of women’s football, a marketing manager, a head coach, an assistant coach, a physiotherapist or sports therapist, a doctor, a strength and conditioning coach, a goalkeeping coach, multiple individuals in specific safeguarding and player-welfare roles, and a matchday safety manager were among the requirements listed. Additionally, clubs were required to demonstrate that they could draw average home attendances of at least 600 spectators.
The midfielder Lily Simkin wrote: “We feel let down … We took it to the last day to find out it would have all been for nothing anyway. We deserve better.”