Short-handed Olympia won’t be invited back

WOMEN’S Super League powerhouse Olympia Warriors has been informed by Football Federation Tasmania that it will not be invited to compete in the statewide competition next year.

FFT chief executive Mike Palmer said the club was informed several weeks ago of the decision.

“The Olympia women’s [team] haven’t been in a position to consistently maintain two teams over a number of years, which is the minimum requirement,” Palmer said.

“The board has felt that it’s time to give another club an opportunity to take a place in the Women’s Super League.”

The WSL has run for two seasons, with Olympia winning last year and finishing third behind the Hobart Zebras and Launceston City this year.

Palmer confirmed that the league would extend into a third year this year, with promotion and relegation to be added at the end of next season.

The top Southern and Northern Championship clubs will play off against each other at the end of the season, and the winner of that playoff will replace the bottom side in the WSL in 2019.

“Olympia, along with a number of other clubs, will have the opportunity to play for promotion next year and get into the top tier, which we see as a real positive and we think will add a real extra dimension to women’s football,” Palmer said.

Olympia could not be contacted last night.