Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes has called on football officials in the UK to consider a closed league. Like all professional soccer leagues in the United Kingdom, the English Women’s Super League currently operates a system of promotion and relegation.
Hayes has experience in a similar situation
“I’ve worked on that in the United States,” former Chicago Red Stars coach Hayes said. “I like the idea of descent and ascent from a traditional perspective, but that doesn’t mean we should be paralyzed by it. We should be open about it.”
“I’ve seen the successes of promoting franchise-type leagues and the consistency that can lead to running them. watch the wnba [Women’s National Basketball Association] as a great example.”
“We should be open to everything, and you shouldn’t always compare everything just because it’s traditional or just because of the men’s game. I think we should be open to reflecting on the pros and cons.”
Hayes previously managed the Red Stars of the Women’s National Soccer League for two and a half years before joining Chelsea. The NWSL, like Major League Soccer, is currently a closed league. This means that there are no promotions or relegations in the leagues.
UK closed league for women would have changes to prize money
In addition to comments about a closed league, the coach also touched on the major differences in prize money between the men’s and women’s clubs. The winners of the men’s FA Cup will raise around $2.4 million this season. Compare this to the FA Women’s Cup winner getting paid around $120,000.
“You have prize money, which is outrageous, it’s outrageous,” Hayes said. “In women’s soccer, that prize money will have an impact all the way up the food chain.”
“And on top of that, you have the broadcast which, when the next set of broadcast rights ends, I think will be a significant moment for the women’s game.”
“Prize money will help clubs have bigger budgets so they can build that support within and around them.”
As well as being Chelsea’s manager, Hayes is also contributing to a national review of women’s football in England. Announced in 2022, this evaluation will help determine ways to grow women’s sport, both at the professional and grassroots levels. The extensive review is expected to be revealed later this summer.
