Matt Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Doncaster Belles have been removed from the top tier of women's football and replaced by Man City after just one game into the new season... "...it is not for football that the Belles have been removed from the top flight. In the first two seasons of the Super League they have not finished bottom, instead Liverpool have grasped the wooden spoon on each occasion. They have not been taken from the top flight due to facilities as in the Keepmoat Stadium, of which they are fully-fledged co-tenants, they boast the best regular home ground in the league. And they have not been kicked out due to a lack of support, because whilst the Belles crowds could be higher, they have not been the lowest in the league, and they've certainly not been the quietest. Instead, they have been demoted and removed simply because the name doesn't fit, and the pounds in their bank account couldn't match the pound signs rolling around the eyeballs of those at the FA who make these decisions." Read more here, http://popularstand....ncaster-belles/ and if you care about the effects of modern football has in every division, please sign the petition: "Against the FA's decision to relegate The Belles." http://www.petitionb...doncasterbelles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusoe Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 It's a disgrace, this story. Utter contempt for football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forte_Baby Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 They have been one of the better female team in the games for years. Ever since they said they would let City join the WSL seems like they been desperate to fast track them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudemedic Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Saw this on stand the other day, absolute disgrace. Whilst Manchester needs a team in the top flight it should do it the proper way by getting promotion. For them to relegate the Belles to fast track City is nonsense, especially considering who came bottom twice, who seemingly have strangely improved this year, presumably due to some additional backing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forte_Baby Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 I understand the FA are desperate to build on the success of the womens Olympics football but Doncaster Bells have done alot more good for the girls game than most clubs. Worse thing this could set a trend here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorrro Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Funnily enough, I suspect if you asked most male football fans to name a women's football team, a large number would say Doncaster Belles. What a farce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
24hoursfromtulsehill Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 The Doncaster Belles are going down? That'll be a first. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bristolatic Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Total disgrace, but typical of the suits at the FA. And we all know what FA should stand for! Petition signed and let's hope it does some good and forces the FA to rescind the decision and make City play for their place like everyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beag_teeets Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 The Doncaster Belles are going down? That'll be a first. Sorry. Keep going I'm almost there...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangerinedreams Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Oh dear... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookersstandandy Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 All that is wrong about modern football summed up in this disgracefully tragic story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtimeblue Posted May 18, 2013 Share Posted May 18, 2013 Can't wait till it all goes tits up for Billy big bollocks. Doncaster Belles were the only team known by a fair amount of the general public when no-one really took an interest in the women's football. Don't really watch women's football but this shouldn't be allowed to happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forte_Baby Posted May 19, 2013 Share Posted May 19, 2013 Worse thing this could set off a nasty trend although if it happened in the means game there be protests etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted June 25, 2013 Author Share Posted June 25, 2013 D-Day for the Doncaster Belles After much campaigning and awareness building by the fans the Belles are travelling to Wembley today with the aim of reaching a pragmatic solution, one which is not only fair and just, but also meets the FA’s aims and objectives with women’s football. http://popularstand.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/d-day-at-the-fa-on-the-doncaster-belles-appeal/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted June 30, 2013 Author Share Posted June 30, 2013 Lost the appeal: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23109804 ...didn't think it end any other way to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Scratch2000uk Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Noticed the bit at the end, concerns over "marketing and commercial strategies" bastards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeylandLatic Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 "The FA would also like to confirm that the licence offer to compete in The FA WSL2 next season is still open to the club, subject to licence criteria that still need to be met." For some reason I find this line makes me feel the most sick about the whole situation - hope they tell them to :censored: off and keep fighting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disjointed Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 "The FA would also like to confirm that the licence offer to compete in The FA WSL2 next season is still open to the club, subject to licence criteria that still need to be met." For some reason I find this line makes me feel the most sick about the whole situation - hope they tell them to :censored: off and keep fighting it. The problem is that if they keep on fighting they fight on there own, if most of the other teams tell them to f off just perhaps a wrong may be righted. But as its the FA we are talking about they just do as they please to suit their own little agendas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeylandLatic Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 The problem is that if they keep on fighting they fight on there own, if most of the other teams tell them to f off just perhaps a wrong may be righted. But as its the FA we are talking about they just do as they please to suit their own little agendas. Yep, that's why it's a horrible situation. Potentially they'd be digging their own grave but I'm not sure I'd be able to go along with such an injustice quietly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disjointed Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Yep, that's why it's a horrible situation. Potentially they'd be digging their own grave but I'm not sure I'd be able to go along with such an injustice quietly. Either way they get shafted, (sorry ladies) I suppose they should fight right to the end I am sure most of the team will get picked up by other clubs, at the end of the day though they want to play football, it wont be the last time the FA get it so badly wrong but they call the shots, pompous farts one and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudemedic Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 There is no reason why they can't appeal this decision in the High Court or even in the Court of Arbritation for Sport. As Sheffield United showed those two avenues don't always agree with the FA's decision making. They aren't cheap though. But what they could mean if an injunction is brought is that the non-performance related relegation of the Belles is delayed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie_J Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Would the FA be subject to judicial review? Not sure whether it's classed as a state body, probably not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudemedic Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Would the FA be subject to judicial review? Not sure whether it's classed as a state body, probably not.Sheffield United took them and West Ham to the High Court. They may receive some funding from the state, in the same way other sports bodies might. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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