Blackburn Rovers Women have been told via a WhatsApp message that they’re not being financially supported next season.
Players now face the very real possibility of the club withdrawing from the WSL2 / Championship altogether. They have been given a seven day deadline for the club to confirm whether they will back them next season hat does not happen, they are out.
No proper communication. No stability. No guarantees. Despite being on the smallest budget in the league, this squad avoided relegation and kept fighting. Most players earn less than a liveable wage.
BBC Sport Lancashire tweeted: “Blackburn Rovers have told us that they remain in talks with their owners and the Women’s Super League regarding the participation of @RoversWFC in next season’s Championship.”
Shocking treatment of hard-working players…. https://t.co/Oi8N61SgZZ
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) May 13, 2025
Niamh Murphy (@niamhmurphy_3) wrote: “Via Whatsapp today we, Blackburn Rovers Women first-team, were made aware that there is a 99% chance that the club’s owners won’t be financially supporting the team next season.
“We were told by message by a fellow teammate that the club have been given a seven day deadline to state their intention to financially support the team and if this isn’t signed then the club will be forced to drop out the Championship/VVSL2.
“I have been a Blackburn player for three seasons and the only consistency there has been is the lack of financial support from the club.
“Whilst this season may not look successful to others, we have once again avoided relegation despite having the smallest budget. This is a huge success and a credit to the women’s players and staff.
“This group has worked relentlessly hard all season for so little reward. We all earn less than a livable wage, with many players having to live away from home whilst also having to work other jobs to survive, and this is what we get in return.
“On a personal note, tearing an ACL is one of the toughest challenges a player can face, bringing with it uncertainty and doubt about returning to form. I am currently three weeks post-op and whilst I should be focused on returning to play I am now left facing a reality that the team and my contract may not exist next week. This is a situation that’s hard to fully comprehend.
“Us players and staff deserve far better than what we’ve experienced in recent seasons. We’ve once again been left in the dark, waiting to see if the owners will have the decency to do what’s best for their players, staff and women’s football.”
Kayleigh McDonald @Kayleigh_Mcx tweeted: “The last 8 years spent at Blackburn was a shambles, not even allowed to use the same coffee machine as the men never mind anything else.
“The reason most of us called it a day at the club was because they are wanting to pay you buttons which doesn’t even cover the petrol over the season yet you’ve signed a ‘professional contract’ anyone in the last 10 years playing for Blackburn has been there purely for the love of the game and to play at a high level.
“Not to mention half of the stuff what had to get swept under the rug by the club.
“They have never bought in to the women’s side it’s always been a box ticking exercise and it’s sad to see because over the years some incredible players and talent have come from that club.
“Like Keira Walsh and Toone who they jump on and promote when in major tournaments but still give their own players the bare minimum because we should be happy with what we’ve got.
“‘ONE ROVERS’ ISNT REALLY ONE ROVERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE FEMALE ATHLETES. ‘ONLY BOTHERED ABOUT THE MEN ROVERS’ Is the rebrand.
“hope all the girls at the club find new clubs because yous all deserve so much more than to feel like intruders at your own club like we all have over the years.
“@rovers @RoversWFC DO BETTER.”
Twitter users reacted with Blackburn Rovers Women told via WhatsApp they’re not being financially supported next season…
@donnywev: You & your team mates, deserve better, good luck 🫰
@jackhenning110: Absolutely fucked #Venkysout
@linzlewis15: I’m so sorry Alex. You and we all deserve so much better 💙
@mewjo85: Embarrassing from the owners . The players deserve so much more than to be treated like this
@DanClough87: I get it’s possibly not huge from a business perspective, but #Rovers has for some time been proud of the success of its womens team and to let it slip away after years of building is very sad (if also very unsurprising). Good luck to all who wear/wore the blue and white 💙🤍
@JamesCWPhoto: My heart goes out to everyone at Blackburn – to have fought as hard as they have, to being told that the owners want nothing to do with them? Rebranding the leagues is cool, but THIS is one of the biggest issues that needs addressing.
@bluerover77: This isn’t good on a number of parts. It’s a step backwards when clubs are investing in their women’s team. It’s also bad that it’s been leaked by a player before anything official by the club.
@allrovers_: Bet they’ll still want you to model the shirt to make them money though.. horrific! We stand with you
@BlueWhiteHalves: I really hope this isn’t true. More embarrassment heaped on our historic club by these incompetent donkeys who have run us into the ground for 15 years. The men and women teams are still in the second tier of English football IN SPITE OF THE OWNERS. Sell up!
@charxsinclair: This is so terribly sad!! Finding out via Whatsapp is a classless act. I hope this gets sorted out for you, all the players and the fans!
@readrovers: Absolutely disgraceful from these charlatans in charge. We as supporters, stand with you & the rest of the ladies. 💙🤍 @niamhmurphy_3
@Tugay_Is_God: Niamh you have my deepest sympathies us fans fully support you a good friend of mine Jan sponsors you I speak on behalf of all the fans the team has performed miracles & we fully appreciate their efforts you deserve so much better than these owners
@linzlewis15: If I see one argument of the women don’t make money & that can be invested in the men’s first team then piss right off. This lot won’t be investing anything.But we will be losing the ability to inspire a generation & creating even more bad PR. Just a standard day over here #rovers
@EverythingBRFC_: Pasha, Gestede, Waggot and Venky’s. Hold your heads in shame. No investment in the men’s OR women’s team and they want to brag about their “lOsiNg £20M a yEaR tO KeeP tHe LighTs On. Wharton’s money kept the lights on. Assets are being stripped and sold as we speak. #Rovers
@j_marsh98:Shame on you Pasha.Shame on you Waggott.Shame on you Venkys.Wankers.#Rovers
