Notts County have provoked anger by announcing that their ladies team will fold just two days before the start of the Women’s Super League season.
While there has been some uncertainty about the club’s finances, the timing of the announcement was unexpected, with County due to start their campaign on Sunday against Arsenal.
The club do not appear to have told their players about the decision before it was announced. Midfielder Danielle Buet tweeted ‘Thanks @Official_NCFC left jobless and homeless.’ She also said the players had only found out through the media, and that the club haven’t ‘even got the balls to tell us to our faces.’
Been find out we have no more club...thanks @Official_NCFC left jobless and homeless
— Danielle buet (@Danibuet4) April 21, 2017
Notts County chairman Alan Hardy, who bought both the men’s and women’s clubs in December from previous chairman Ray Trew, made the announcement in a statement that said he ‘has reluctantly admitted defeat in his bid to save Notts County Ladies Football Club after facing a near-£1m bill to keep the club afloat this season.’
A winding up order had been issued against the ladies’ club, which was adjourned in March. They had been given until July 3 to pay money owed to HMRC. Two Premier League sides had shown an interest in taking over the business as a going concern, but the FA would not sanction a transfer of licence.
“I am devastated that we cannot continue the Ladies project but the numbers simply do not stack up,” said Hardy. “Continuing would have been little short of financial suicide. When I took over the club, HMRC and other creditors had in excess of £350,000 of unpaid liabilities. Additionally, I was extremely concerned that to operate Notts County Ladies for the current season was going to cost us approximately £500,000 - a figure principally made up of player and coaching salaries.
“Our total projected incoming revenue from attendances and sponsorship was £28,000. It’s a very sad day for me personally and supporters should rest assured I have left no stone unturned in my quest to save the club.
“However, having taken all factors into consideration, the only possible outcome is to discontinue our Ladies club. I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to the staff and players and we all wish them every success in finding new clubs.”
The future of the players remains uncertain, as it is not yet clear whether any of them will be able to find new clubs for the upcoming season. The squad features several England internationals, including Carly Telford, defenders Laura Bassett and Jo Potter, and midfielder Jade Moore. All four were part of the team that reached the 2015 World Cup semi-final, and were named in Mark Sampson’s squad for the upcoming European Championships.
Telford tweeted: ‘CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT I HAVE JUST WITNESSED!!! NOTTS COUNTY LADIES NO LONGER EXISTS!!!’
An FA statement simply said: “The FA is aware of the situation and is liaising with all involved parties.
“Our priority is the welfare of the players and we will work closely with them, the PFA and wider stakeholders to support them through this time.”
Notts County Ladies were created in 2014 when Lincoln Ladies were controversially relocated from Lincoln to Nottingham and rebranded. They reached the Women’s FA Cup Final in 2015, losing 1-0 to Chelsea, and finished sixth in the WSL last season.