W-League season to be delayed and expansion plans put on hold due to Covid

The W-League season will go ahead but is unlikely to start until next year, as Football Federation Australia seeks to get a full campaign up and running despite the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Having successfully completed a full A-League fixture list, FFA is desperate to do likewise for the women’s competition, although a delayed start appears inevitable and flexibility will be required given the ever-changing coronavirus situation.

“The clubs [the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association] are committed to operating a W-League 2020-21 season, however it will in all likelihood be the 2021 season as it is unlikely to start before the end of this calendar year,” an FFA Leagues spokesperson told Guardian Australia.

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“Planning is well underway for the upcoming W-League season as it is for the A-League season. This process has been complicated by the Covid-19 border restrictions in Australia and New Zealand that are currently in place and that may be in place for months to come.”

Wellington Phoenix were reportedly to introduce a W-League side for the upcoming season, but the uncertainty surrounding it means the expansion process will be delayed until at least the 2021-22 season. Furthermore, Wellington are not the only A-League club interested in entering a team into the W-League.

“All the A-League clubs that don’t currently have a W-League licence are looking to participate in a process of expansion for the season after next,” the spokesperson said. “We will look at all possibilities as we intend to successfully complete a nine-team competition with a similar number of games as last season, with the same broadcast opportunities to showcase the W-League.”

In the six months since the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, there has been little – if any – discussion about the immediate future of Australia’s top women’s competition as the country continues to grapple with Covid-19.

While all eyes and energies have been focused on rebooting the more lucrative A-League, there has been a growing feeling among W-League players that because their league has been out of sight, it has also been out of mind.

In an online meeting organised this month by the players’ union, Professional Footballers Australia, a number of W-League players expressed their concerns and anxieties about the upcoming season. It is understood that several W-League players have sought opportunities abroad in recent months due to the lack of clarity and communication from FFA and their own clubs.

FFA confirmed there had been no official communication directly with the players, but discussions among other stakeholders about what format the season will take were in progress.

“The Professional Women’s Football Committee, which has representatives from the PFA, the players, clubs and FFA’s Leagues staff has discussed status, calendar planning, proposed format, likely window and related planning challenges caused by a Covid-19 environment and will continue these discussions as part of its regular meetings.”

FFA said the APFCA would be in a position to provide an update to player within the next four weeks, once “scenario plans begin to become clearer and meaningful information is available”.

The A-League completed its most recent season in a hub based in New South Wales, but a similar proposal is not desirable for the W-League – though, like everything else, it will depend on the constantly evolving pandemic and nothing is off the table at this stage.

“Current preference would be not to adopt a hub model which was similar to the A-League due to the difference in professional contracting for W-League players versus A-League players, namely, general length of contracts,” said the spokesperson.

“However, if this was the only way to complete the season, we would need to discuss in detail with the PFA and the players. All modelling options will continue to be discussed with clubs and the PWFC.

“As many of our W-League players are not full-time players, there are further logistical complications re: travel and hub options, such as alternative employment and family responsibilities.”

As clubs and the PFA continue to negotiate a new CBA for both leagues, FFA confirmed that the reported 30% pay cut for A-League players may not be applied to W-League players.

“APFCA is continuing discussions with all key stakeholders, including players, regarding the material impact COVID-19 has had on both professional leagues. The W-League deserves its own bespoke approach to the player engagement framework and the starting position of APFCA is not to apply the same model to both professional leagues.”

Sources have told Guardian Australia that clubs originally wanted to reduce the W-League minimum salary from $16,344 to roughly $12,000, however that proposal was swiftly rejected by players. A one-year CBA has been tabled to ensure W-League players do not lose any wages or benefits they received last season.