BIRMINGHAM CITY WOMEN have complained to their club’s board about working conditions, medical care and fitness facilities for their players.
The Telegraph claims a formal letter it has seen – signed by every single member of Blues’ first-team squad – has been sent to club chiefs.
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The letter, which was first reported by journalist Shebahn Aherne on Sky Sports News, lists a number of problems.
Concerns include a lack of support with travel on game days, access to changing rooms and worries about playing finances affecting match-day squad numbers.
It claims that some salaries for playing staff are reportedly below the minimum wage and that current conditions for players ‘prevent us from performing our jobs to the best of our ability’.
And it is thought gym facilities provided for the women’s team do not meet elite sporting standards with their physio and rehab room based in a portakabin.
Other concerns highlighted include poor-quality pitches provided for players and claims that some coaching personnel are not employed full-time which would contravene Women’s Super League licence regulations.
The Telegraph reports there are fears the club may not be committed to providing the finances needed to pay for a full-time women’s side next term.
And just three players are thought to have a contract for next season.
It is claimed the women’s squad – who are currently ninth and battling for survival in the WSL – had numerous pleas for meetings with board members declined before their complaint letter was sent.
However, Birmingham City officials are thought to have denied this.
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A club official told the Telegraph: “The letter was received, in the last week, and responded to.
A request to meet with the board was made in the letter and the request was the first formal request to be received.
“It’s no secret we have one of the lowest budgets in the league, Covid has only compounded this.
“This certainly makes it difficult to compete, but we’re doing our best on and off the pitch in what is a very difficult time for professional football.”
Birmingham, who reached the semi-finals of the 2020 Women’s FA Cup, have endured a challenging season with injuries leaving their squad severely depleted earlier this term.
And pitch conditions at the Damson Park ground they use for home clashes has led to some fixtures being postponed.
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In January team boss Carla Ward said she would only be able to field TEN players for a game against Tottenham due to several players being out of action.
After talks with team medics, there were concerns over the physical wellbeing of players which led to the club applying for the fixture to be postponed.
However, after the FA refused their request the club decided to call off the game due to an ‘unprecedented shortage of player availability’.
The decision would later lead to Tottenham being awarded a win and three points by an independent tribunal much to Birmingham Women’s disappointment.
The tribunal found the club had breached rule 11.3.18 by failing ‘to fulfil an engagement’.
We’ve had it all chucked at us and I’m absolutely delighted with this team as they’ve shown pure resilience and a mentality and a mindset not to roll over.
Carla Ward
Birmingham, who are three points and three places above the drop zone, are due to take on Reading in the league after the international break following an FA Cup clash with Coventry.
Prior to their game with Chelsea Ward, who took charge of the club in August 2020, praised the grit her team have displayed this season.
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Ward said: “We’ve had it all chucked at us and I’m absolutely delighted with this team as they’ve shown pure resilience and a mentality and a mindset not to roll over.
“It’s easy to roll over when things aren’t going your way, but they’ve had a real attitude of making sure that they’ve got a siege mentality.
“Before I took this job I know there were a lot of people saying Birmingham would get rolled over week-in, week-out, and we haven’t done.
“No matter what happens, I can honestly say I will be very proud of this group because we’ve achieved a points number that Blues didn’t achieve last season.”
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