Doncaster Rovers Belles could receive a lifeline after Barnsley FC’s announced in a shock statement the the clubs women’s side would be withdrawing from the National League next year.
The Belles and Barnsley were both in the FA Women’s National League Division One North (Tier Four) last season, however while Barnsley were safe in 8th, the Belles were relegated finishing 11th.
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Middlesbrough | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 32 | 51 |
| 2 | Cheadle Town Stingers | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 51 |
| 3 | Chorley | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 43 |
| 4 | Leeds United | 22 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 41 |
| 5 | Huddersfield Town | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 36 |
| 6 | Durham Cestria | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | -1 | 25 |
| 7 | Stockport County | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | -9 | 25 |
| 8 | Barnsley FC Women | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | -11 | 23 |
| 9 | Norton & Stockton Ancients | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | -13 | 23 |
| 10 | York City | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | -25 | 21 |
| 11 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | -20 | 17 |
| 12 | AFC Fylde | 22 | 3 | 5 | 14 | -25 | 14 |
With Barnsley withdrawing from the league next year, and Doncaster Rovers Belles the next closest side, a reprieve appears most likely for the Belles.
If this were to happen, the Belles would remain in the fourth tier and an announcement from the FA is expected later today.
If the Belles were to be handed a lifeline, it would massively shift the club’s plans going forward. Relegation from the WSL 2 in 2018 set the club on a downward spiral, eventually resulting in their relegation to the Fifth Tier this year.
The Belles future hadn’t been decided prior to Barnsley’s withdrawal, as the implications of Blackburn Rovers decision to pull out of WSL 2 next year had yet to be determined, which is expected to also have ramifications on Sheffield United.
In a lengthy statement, Barnsley said: ‘Whilst as a Club we applaud the efforts of The FA to provide financial backing to the WSL and the Women’s Championship, that funding does not trickle down sufficiently to the Women’s National League and the financial restraints put upon the Club this summer has driven us to make this difficult decision.’
SYWF have approached both Doncaster Rovers Belles and Barnsley FC for a comment.
More to follow.
