[BFC SITE] OPEN LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN REGARDING BARNSLEY FC WOMEN'S TEAM

AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN - BARNSLEY FC:

4 June 2025

Following weeks of discussions both internally as a board and externally with The Football Association (The FA), it is with great sadness that we can confirm that Barnsley FC’s Women’s team will be withdrawing from the FA Women’s National League ahead of the 25/26 season.

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.

Despite our Men’s Academy teams being able to play competitive League fixtures on both our Showcase and 4G pitches, under EFL and Premier League regulations, we have been informed by the FA that these facilities do not meet the criteria for the fourth tier of the Women’s game and therefore the full operation would need to be moved either onto Oakwell Stadium or a local grassroots club, both are financially and logistically not possible with resources available.

It may have been possible to obtain temporary dispensation from The FA, however this would only delay the inevitable decision around the additional costs of playing at a different venue.

Whilst this was not an easy or unanimous decision at board level, and we are devastated to have made this tough decision, it remains important that Barnsley FC continues to be a viable business and incurring further significant losses would be irresponsible and reckless, impacting on both the Club and Community and putting the entire Men’s and Academy operation at risk.

Many clubs have recently had to undertake detailed reviews of their financial positions, and we hope that the female game at all levels overcomes financial fragility in the short, medium and long term.

Whilst we are unable to continue operating with a team at this level, we do remain committed to our investment into the Women’s and Girl’s game, and therefore we will continue to support the Barnsley FC Community Trust who will invest into the grassroots game for women and girls in our local area.

Yours sincerely

Neerav Parekh

Chairman – Barnsley FC

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Without knowing the financial burden to the club it's difficult to form an opinion. If it's a few hundred quid then it seems extremely short sighted, if it's a few hundred thousand quid then it's understandable. I don't know what would be a reasonable loss and I don't expect the club to release detailed financial information. But equally, in the absence of that information, I don't know what to think. I'm disappointed for the players I know who were in the team.

I can imagine JAQ isn't too pleased and is probably wishing she'd never heard of Barnsley.

 

Can't they play at Hillsboro? That will be vacant soon enough.

 

Correct decision. Makes me wonder when we'll enter admin.

 

Unbelievable decision...to take this massive decision it indicates we are really in a bad place financially.

 

I thought the £8 million+ shortfall that Flatman announced already did a pretty good job of doing that.

 

It's time the owners put us up for sale

 

We could be this years Bury.

 

I assume the club is always up for sale. Whether there's a credible buyer out there is the main question.

 

Yes the Crynes did a really good job selling the majority of the club to a bunch of charlatans and the incompetents who took over from the Charlatans and are running the club into the ground. Que the happy clappers retort of but who'll buy us, they keep the club afloat blah blah well the money appears to be running out or the chairmans pockets have been sewn up by the rest of his family. Basically we are ****** unless they sell the club.

 

I'm like any fan I want us to be successful, but there comes a point at what cost?

Let's say Neerav and & Co sell us to someone for a nominal fee and they want to run us as a sustainable club, there then is a decsion to make which probably means closing the academy, major cost cutting and a much lower playing budget, that's the reality.

People can say well its their fault we've lost money and yes I'm not hear to defend them for a second and yes they are responsible for the loses, but the other argument is they kept better players such as Cole, kane, Williams and Cadden gambling on promotion and losing them for nothing.

It all comes down to expectation levels and where you see us as a club and then it comes down to expectation levels in the current state of football.
IMO we still have a chunk of fans who were spoiled to PL football and challenging in the championship in the 90's, myself included but history shows it wasn't the normal with our all time standing being 44th = equivalent to bottom of the championship.
The game has changed beyond belief and gets worse year on year, yesterday's thread showing the finances in L1 highlights this.
I want us to get back to the championship but I'm realistic enough to know there's probably 12 other clubs in this league all good enough to challenge and we can't spend our way out, it will take a bit of patience, more game time for the youngsters and some very smart recruitment which might take 2/3 windows

Unless someone rocks up who is a lifelong fan prepared to lose a ton of money it won't change mate, there really isn't a big que of people wanting to throw money away.
We need to be realistic of where we are at, you might not like it or agree with but that's where we are at hence this decsion on the women's team.

 

As if we aren't already...

 

There's a thread about Keiran Maguire a couple of posts down. I suggest you read it mate

 

Good points. From my reading of that statement I also think there's a subtle two fingers at the FA and the system in general. The corporate 'trickle down' economics in football is causing hardship and the Barnsley board have said 'no thanks' to this aspect of it. Its a real shame for the women. A real shame. However I can understand it and can sympathise with the board in the big scheme. I'm not happy really but as I said I can see it.

 

Yep it's not ideal but I guess using Oakwell isn't viable cost wise, tough but necessary choices I guess.

 

It's crap for women and girls, it really is and dreams can get ruined here but I think BFC are intimating its the FA and corporate structure's fault. There's some truth in that.

 

If you are a business, why would decide to introduce an extra part to the business that.. not only doesn't make money but actually costs the business extra money to run.. This club needs to trim it's cloth.. top to bottom..

 

Its tough but times are hard, if it means more flexibility for the League one campaign then fine.
If we get that right revenue will rise and then maybe there will be a bit spare again.