Women left frustrated and annoyed by delayed return

JOY over the return of the Scotland Women’s Premier League this weekend has been offset by anger at being marginalised during the latest lockdown. While the men’s Scottish Premiership and Championship — which contains part-time teams — were allowed to continue amid the second wave of the Covid pandemic, the SWPL was shut down in January. ‘We were the only professional league that was paused, and that was annoying,’ said Celtic’s Jodie Bartle, whose side host derby rivals Glasgow City on Sunday. Hibs striker Eilidh Adams — her team is away to Spartans on Sunday — added: ‘The men were allowed to train but not the women, while funding was there.’ The Scottish FA was handed more than £300,000 by UEFA to aid the return of the women’s game during the pandemic but SWPL members feel they were not given enough of the pot. Clubs also remain concerned about the lack of influence the female game has within Hampden’s corridors of power. Glasgow City boss Scott Booth said: ‘There’s nobody in power in the women’s game to fight our cause.’ Amateur side Forfar Farmington have their own issue with the governing body. They say they submitted paperwork to the SFA to sign Northern Irish midfielder Leontia McVarnock last year but are still to be given clearance for her to play. ‘It’s hugely disappointing,’ assistant head coach Kevin McGreskin told STV. ‘We submitted the paperwork in December and we’re still waiting.’ FIFA are dealing with that individual case. The SFA say they are committed to enhancing the representation of the women’s game and it is hoped that Fiona McIntyre’s appointment as the SFA’s new head of women’s and girl’s football will improve the situation.