Fran Kirby wants to the WSL to be the world’s strongest women’s league – and not just the biggest
The Albion and England star has warned against promoting clubs who are not fully committed if the top tier is to be expanded.
Latest plans, initially reported by The Guardian, are understood to include a temporary stop on relegation as part of a gradual expansion of the top flight and the Championship to 16 teams each.
Now suggestions have emerged that the League Cup, currently sponsored by Subway, could be dropped.
Kirby is happy to see change but only iof the structure and support is in place.
She said: “I want to see the league with the best teams in it.
“With relegation and promotion, you have that competitiveness, which I think is still really important in thec game and is something that has driven the game for a long time.
“But I want this league to have the best teams in it and the clubs who are going to fully fund their women’s teams.
“I think if you are coming into the WSL, you have to be prepared to invest.
“I think in previous years you have seen teams come up and they get relegated again because they haven’t been able to sustain it and haven’t been in the league for long enough.
“Hopefully, if that is resolved, it is done right for the league and it is done right for the teams who are looking to push into that league.
“We want to make it the most competitive league in the world and to do that you need the clubs who are really willing to push their women’s teams.”
Albion currently play 22 league games in what is a stop-start season and Dario Vidosic is in favour of a longer fixture list.
The head coach said: “There are positives and there are probably negatives.
“I think a bigger leagues makes sense.
“I thought it would be good to give the teams and everyone the opportunity to play more games.
“It helps development as well, when you get to play more games.”
Albion face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Sunday and host Manchester City at the Broadfield Stadium a week later.
They have announced plans to stage their match against Liverpool at the Amex on Saturday, April 19 (12.30pm).
