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The Women\u2019s Super League (WSL) and Championship are preparing to break free from the Football Association after the top two tiers unanimously agreed to be governed by a new, independent body from next season.<\/p>\n
Former Nike and Citigroup executive Nikki Doucet has been appointed to lead the organisation, NewCo, effective immediately, and will oversee plans for all 24 clubs to move into the new governance structure ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.<\/p>\n
Each club who participates in the WSL and Championship will act as shareholders under the NewCo model, which has long been in the works and is seen as an important step in growing what an independent review concluded this summer has potential to become a billion-pound domestic women\u2019s football industry within 10 years.<\/p>\n
Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA\u2019s director of women\u2019s football, said: \u201cThe women\u2019s professional game is in the strongest place that it has ever been thanks to the hard work of everybody involved in its development so far, but we firmly believe that the NewCo will take it to another level entirely.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach of our 24 clubs and the league itself wants the Barclays Women\u2019s Super League and Barclays Women\u2019s Championship to be setting the standards for women\u2019s football around the world, and this venture into a new governing body is the next step in us achieving that ambition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a historical moment for the women\u2019s professional game in this country, and it is a move that will see our clubs and players make even bigger strides both on and off the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former England international Karen Carney led the independent review into the women\u2019s game, commissioned by the government in 2022, concluding in July that \u201cwomen\u2019s football is a start-up business.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is a historical moment for the women\u2019s professional game in this country, and it is a move that will see our clubs and players make even bigger strides both on and off the pitch<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re starting something you have to have an influx of money. In 10 years\u2019 time I really do believe this sport could be a billion-pound industry,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
NewCo, a restructure of power similar to the Premier League\u2019s 20-club governance model, is viewed by many as a critical next phase in the commercial growth of the English women\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
A working group chaired by Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham, with Doucet serving as an independent consultant, led on developing the proposal for NewCo and involved 10 representatives from WSL and Championship clubs including Crystal Palace chair Steve Parish and Patrick Stewart, who earlier this month was appointed interim chief at Manchester United.<\/p>\n
Venkatesham added: \u201cThis is a pivotal moment in the history of the women\u2019s professional game, as we look to work together to build the most distinctive, competitive and entertaining women\u2019s football club competition in the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cSetting up NewCo provides the opportunity to accelerate the sustainable growth of the women\u2019s game and will not only support the development of the Barclays Women\u2019s Super League and Barclays Women\u2019s Championship, but the entirety of the women\u2019s football pyramid.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been a constructive and collective effort to get to this stage, and Nikki\u2019s appointment encapsulates the ambition we have for NewCo. With her vision for women\u2019s football, the future is incredibly bright.\u201d<\/p>\n