- Independent company WPLL – owned by the clubs have taken over the top two tiers of women’s football in England
- It now controls the WSL and Women’s Championship and is set to create a “new era” for the sport
- WPLL will be led by former Nike director Nikki Doucet
- There are also other differences, including the Premier League providing the WPLL with funding
- The FA and Premier League both have seats on the board
WSL takeover – what it means for women’s football in England
A new independent company – Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) – owned by the clubs have taken over the top two tiers of women’s football in England. It now controls the WSL and Women’s Championship and is set to create a “new era” for the sport.
WPLL – which was known as NewCo before the deal was done – will be led by former Nike director Nikki Doucet, who said English women’s football has had “unprecedented growth”, but can go further.
Doucet said: “We are fiercely committed to building on this momentum by creating a thriving landscape which prioritises the welfare and development of players, fosters and excites a vibrant fan community, and nurtures the sport’s growth.”
What does the change of ownership mean going forward?
The immediate changes to English women’s football.
Doucet now manages England’s top two leagues and chairs a body which is owned by the clubs competing in each division.
There are also other differences, including the Premier League providing the WPLL with funding.
- The WPLL is fully independent of the Football Association and has full control of the two divisions
- Each of the 23 clubs – 12 in the WSL and 11 in the Championship – own a stake
- The Premier League has given the WPLL a £20m interest-free loan
- The Premier League will offer support in areas including broadcasting, commercial and football operations
- A new board has been founded to manage the body
- The FA retains a “special share” which gives it the right to a portion of the revenue once thresholds are met, to reinvest in grassroots women’s and girls’ football projects
The Premier League has a seat on the new board
What’s on the horizon?
The company’s name WPLL is likely to change in the near future.
The Premier League has a seat on the new board, but the seat only lasts until the £20m loan has been repaid.
The WPLL is in charge of negotiating a new broadcast deal. The current rights agreement with BBC Sport and Sky Sports expires at the end of the 2024-25 season.
As it now has full control, the WPLL can also make changes to the structure of the league, invest in new technology and officiating, and implement rule changes.
Who are the members of the new board?
Dawn Airey, who has overseen the two leagues within the FA since 2019, is a member of the new board of directors.
The FA and Premier League both have seats, while there are also three non-executive directors:
- Sean Cornwell – the former chief executive of magazine publisher Immediate Media
- Maria Raga Frances – the former chief executive of online marketplace Depop
- Malcolm Kpedekpo – an ex-professional footballer who is a non-executive director of the Scottish Football Association
There is also a new leadership team who report to Doucet.
That team includes a chief operating officer, interim chief marketing officer, chief football officer and chief revenue officer.