An interview with Blues ladies boss
Birmingham City Ladies boss David Parker says the Women’s Super League club need new to find new sponsorship to compete with their rivals.
Blues, who started the season playing in the Champions League, suffered a heart-breaking end to the WSL 1 campaign when they missed out on a first league title by a single goal, and Parker insists they need new funding if they are to improve.
‘For people who have wealth, it’s not a lot. We’re desperate,’ he told BBC WM.
‘The bigger picture is turning full-time. We have to do that to keep surviving. We’ve seen the difference that can make going full-time and that is our short-term goal.
‘We need to ensure our funding. We need someone out there with a bit of love for Blues, and we have to find out it soon to keep the group together and build on what we’ve got.’
Parker’s team even missed out on a European spot as they finished third, having started the day in second, knowing that victory over Notts County would give them their first title if morning leaders Chelsea lost.
But, while Chelsea did go down at Manchester City, Blues could not take advantage, drawing 2-2, allowing third-placed Liverpool to sneak in and retain their title.
‘One goal’s difference between winning the title and finishing third – it’s hard to take,’ added an emotional Parker.
And he admitted that it is getting harder and harder for his team to resist overtures from other clubs.
‘We have to try and keep the predators at bay and you can only do it for so long,’ said Parker. ‘The predators have already tried their best and we’re coming to a tipping point.
‘We’ve gone to hell and back with this football club.
‘In terms of going to the Champions League and losing money, trying to string things together, and people putting their hands in their pocket to give these girls what they deserve.
‘We’ve fought for everything. We get given nothing.
‘Yes, the men’s club do fantastically for us. We’re grateful for everything they give us but, in comparison, it’s nothing. It really does not make much of a difference.
‘It’s that bad we’re in a professional league and were playing on school pitches this summer as we didn’t have a training ground. We barely get any kit. We barely get given anything.’
The major concern for fans, in light of this interview, would be the futures of key players at the club. Karen Carney, Jade Moore and Jo Potter were called up to the full England squad this week, and no doubt playing at that level will attract suitors in the WSL and beyond. Everton are a good example of what can happen when your best players are picked off one by one, and they were relegated this year, so all at Blues will be absolutely desperate for this not to happen, and hopefully funding will be found before pre-season kicks in next year.
Meanwhile, goals from Coral Haines and Hannah George gave Blues` development side a 2-1 victory over Yeovil Ladies in the WSL Development Cup. This leaves the girls top of group three on maximum points after two games, following their magnificent 13-0 win away at Oxford Ladies in their opening group game.
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