Exeter City Football Club is disappointed, but unsurprised, by the FA Women’s National League’s (WNL) decision to allow Professional Game Academy (PGA) sides to compete in the league from 2027/28.
Many of the changes in the approved package of reforms are a positive step forward for the women’s game, namely the introduction of central funding from the league, enhancements to the loan market and the introduction of WNL academies.
Throughout the consultation process, it has been clear that the FA would press ahead with the introduction of PGAs to the league system, regardless of the opposition from clubs. That member clubs were not given a vote confirms the FA understood just how unpopular this decision would be.
At a time when the women’s game should be taken with the seriousness and respect that it deserves, the FA’s decision to invite select PGAs into Tier Three only serves to devalue the competition. The change goes against the FA’s stated aims “to strengthen the women's football pyramid and raise standards across the league” and only encourages the further stockpiling of players by wealthy teams.
Developing elite clubs’ stockpile of talent is not the responsibility of leagues further down the pyramid, and our competitions should not be compromised or altered for the benefit of the teams fortunate enough to currently sit at the top.
Exeter City’s position on the matter is clear: there is no place for youth sides or B teams in the league pyramid and we call on the FA to reverse its decision to invite PGAs into the league system next season.