SAINTS LADIES GIVEN A REBOOT

SOUTHAMPTON are to take over the Hampshire County FA girl’s centre of excellence to launch a women’s club directly associated with the club.

Executive director Les Reed told the BBC Radio Solent fans’ forum on Monday of his plans to develop a women’s team to eventually play at the highest level.

He said: “Part of our five year plan involved lengthy discussions about women’s football. It takes a long time to get to WSL level, so where we have started is by taking over, in collaboration with the Hampshire FA, the girls centre of excellence.

“Next season it will become Southampton ladies.We will develop it in the same way that we have developed the academy here.”

The Saints currently have three ladies teams close the club, but at a lower level, and will look to develop young players through this launch.

“We would love to get to the Women’s Super League,” Reed said.

“But we will do it step-by-step by growing from the grass-roots of ladies football through an elite programme for the girls.

Our ambition at the end of the day will ultimately be to have a Women’s Super League team playing for Southampton.”