Peterborough United Women's director blasts 'self-serving disgraceful' decision as team return to action on Thursday
Peterborough United Women’s director Iain Crawford has blasted a controversial FA directive as a ‘self-serving disgrace.’
From the 2027-28 season Women's Super League (WSL) academy sides will be able to enter teams into tier three football after the divisive proposal was approved by the Football Association. Posh have just set out on their first season at tier three level.
Four professional game academy (PGA) sides will be given the opportunity to compete, without eligibility for promotion, as part of reforms to the Women's National League (WNL) which are ‘designed to strengthen the women's football pyramid, raise standards across the league, and improve the development pathway for young players’.
But 52 Fifty two of the 72 WNL clubs signed a letter opposing the proposal to introduce top-tier academy teams in their system in June 2026, describing it as ‘morally wrong’ and claiming ‘board representatives did not consult their clubs’.
The FA believe they are combating the lack of competitive minutes young English players receive compared with their counterparts across Europe.
But Crawford said: “The decision is frankly a disgrace and self-serving for the chosen few.”
Posh seek to build on their historic weekend win by beating Notts County in a National League Cup group tie against Notts County at PIMS Park on Thursday (7.45pm kick off).
Posh won the first National Northern Premier Division game in their history by seeing off a highly-regarded Liverpool Feds side 3-2 on Sunday.
Posh will make changes for the game against County, who play in a National League division below Jake Poole’s side, but there will be no ‘charity’ selections.
Scottish age group international Brodie Greenwood and powerful striker Freya Anderson are expecting a call-up.
Manager Poole said: “It’s important we build on the momentum of Sunday’s result, but it’s also an opportunity for other players to get minutes. I won’t make decisions based on charity, but on what’s best for the squad.
"We’ve played County about six times in the last two seasons so we know each other well. They’ve always given us problems, even if we’ve usually been successful.”