Reading withdraw women's team from Championship

Reading FC Women will play successful nan 5th tier adjacent play aft nan nine withdrew from nan Championship.

The nine person encountered financial difficulties complete nan past 12 months and nan owners person made cuts crossed nan board, starring to fears that nan women's squad would beryllium scrapped altogether.

Owner Dai Yongge has put Reading up for sale, but without a "cash injection" nan nine opportunity they cannot meet nan criteria to compete successful nan 2nd tier of nan women's game.

"The nine understand nan demotion to Tier 5 will travel arsenic a immense disappointment for each connected pinch nan club," Reading said successful a statement.

"Unfortunately, fixed nan existent economical realities of nan Club, nan outlay required to scope these levels are conscionable not imaginable without important proprietor funding."

The connection added that nan Royals would not spot a "direct financial return" from investing successful their women's squad for "at slightest 5 years".

The nine explored nan anticipation of outer finance into their women's team, which whitethorn person allowed nan first squad to support their Championship status.

However, Reading said: "The complexities astir abstracted ownership person meant operating Reading FC Women nether a abstracted backing exemplary has not been possible."

Reading were relegated from nan Women's Super League successful 2023, and vanished 10th retired of 12 successful nan Championship past season.

Dawn Airey, Women's Super League and Championship committee chair, said: "We are very disappointed that Reading FC Women person decided to retreat from nan Barclays Women's Championship.

"We person been moving intimately pinch nan nine passim nan play and person made each effort to find a solution and to forestall this outcome."

Sell Before We Dai, a Reading supporters' group, launched a protestation against nan club's owners earlier this week up of their decision.

As good arsenic highlighting nan plight of nan women's set-up, nan group besides urged immoderate imaginable buyers to accelerate their liking successful nan Royals.

Reading's demotion intends nan Championship will person conscionable 11 teams adjacent season, pinch 1 relegation place.