Blackburn tell angry players WSL 2 place is in jeopardy

Blackburn's place in the Women's Super League 2 next season is in major doubt after their players were informed yesterday morning that the club is highly unlikely to provide the funding to meet the division's new minimum licence requirement.

- Tom Garry

No decision has yet been made by the club for next season but the Blackburn defender Niamh Murphy wrote on X that the players had been warned the club's mind was already "99%" made up. Multiple sources have told the Guardian that the club have been given a deadline to confirm by next week whether or not they wish to participate, or face demotion.

The situation is understood to have left the players and staff anxious, angry and feeling like they are in a state of limbo, while they await a formal decision. Some of the squad have posted their concerns on social media, with the Scotland youth international Murphy writing: "We, Blackburn Rovers women's first team, were made aware there is a 99% chance that the club's owners won't be financially supporting the team next season.