REPORT: WSL Club Set To Revert To Part-Time Status

REPORT: WSL Club Set To Revert To Part-Time Status

Following their relegation from the WSL to the Women’s Championship, Reading have confirmed that they will be operating on a part-time basis [via Reading FC Official Club Website].

In a statement on Reading’s official club website, 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 and, 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.

“Our owner, Mr Dai Yongge, has his full focus concentrated on our club’s rebuild. He is fully committed to consolidating our efforts into a sensible and sustainable reset, designed to bring success back to RG2.”

What will this mean for Reading?

As a part-time club, Reading’s members of staff – including coaches and players – will only receive a part-time wage and will only train on certain days of the week, rather than every day.

Moving forward, the club will focus on implementing a more ‘sustainable’ business model – something that has been necessitated even further by the relegation of the men’s team to League One.

The club currently have several players who are on full-time contracts. Due to this, the club will hold individual meetings with these players to discuss their futures [via BBC Sport].

How many clubs in the WSL are part-time?

All clubs in the WSL are professional – but this isn’t the case for many women’s teams across the country, who operate on a semi-professional or even amateur basis.

As such, players in a semi-professional or amateur outfit will often need to supplement their income by taking on second jobs – meaning they have a limited time in which they can train and play.