Sunderland 'remain committed' to Ladies team despite departures

Sunderland AFC have said that they remain committed to the Ladies team after a number of key players left the club.

The Black Cats were sitting 11 points clear at the top of the National League North with a game in hand on secondplaced Derby County when fixtures were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FA then made the hugely controversial decision to declare tiers three to seven null and void.

This was despite the fact that they would go on to settle the Championship and Super League tables on a points-pergame basis, with promotion from the Championship and relegation from the Super League left in place.

Some key players in Melanie Copeland’s squad have now moved on to new challenges.

Prolific goalscorer Bridget Galloway has stepped up to the Championship to join Durham Women alongside midfielder Mollie Lambert.

Charlotte Potts has joined Hibernian Women while Katie Barker, Rachel Woolston and Georgia Gibson have all moved to Newcastle Women.

Speaking at a meeting with supporter groups this week, Executive Director Neil Fox said the club remained committed to the team but some of the squad wanted to move on after two years in the National League.

Notes released by the Red & White Army read: “NF praised Mel Copeland and her success in retaining players when Sunderland Ladies when into National League North for an extra season with the aim of getting promoted, but players wish to play at a higher level so have moved on. Sunderland AFC remain committed to the Ladies team.”

The notes also said that the club were ‘set to announce new players’.

understands that former Middlesbrough duo Olivia Watt and Emily Scarr are two set to join.

Financial director Angela Lowes also said that ‘everything was in place’ to apply for a spot in the Championship

had last season concluded, and that a future application would be welcomed by the FA.

“Angela Lowes said everything was in place for them to be admitted to the WSL if the achieved promotion. The end of the season due to coronavirus, prevented this, but should we wish to go through process the FA will be supportive of a future application to the WSL.”