Wolves can confirm all necessary documentation for Wolves Women’s promotion application from tier three to tier two has been successfully submitted to the Women’s Super League ahead of the required deadline.
The application forms part of the process which requires clubs in the FAWNL Premier Divisions to show evidence of their ability to meet the WSL’s ‘Key Minimum Requirements’ across governance, performance, facilities, and long-term sustainability before they can secure a place in the second tier of women’s football.
The strenuous and robust application process represents a significant milestone for Wolves and was undertaken by members of staff from across the football club.
The application process includes several areas of criteria, including:
- Financial and business management; the club’s strategy document which outlines medium to long term vision and underpinning strategic pillars.
- Facilities; documenting the club’s commitment to a primary and secondary venue suitable for professional football.
- Marketing and commercial plans; to document how the club plans to grow and retain the supporters base as well as a roadmap to drive commercial and partnership revenue.
- Club key staff; ensuring relevant members of staff for professional football are in place or are to be recruited upon a successful promotion.
- Player contact time; complying with the minimum requirements per player each week.
- Regional partnerships; detailing how the club and the Foundation will partner to develop and promote the women's game at both junior and senior levels.
- Talent pathway development; detailing the club’s pathway for players aged 10 to 16.
The WSL review process will see applications assessed by a specialist selection panel before final consideration by the WSL Football Board.
To be successful in their application, Wolves are required to demonstrate off-pitch operational readiness as well as sporting performance – by finishing top of the FA WNL Northern Premier Division or winning the third tier play-offs.
The deadline for the submission was 12pm on Thursday 5th February, with the club set to receive feedback and the opportunity to review and add detail from Friday 20th February. Final outcomes are expected to be communicated following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, subject to league and regulatory processes.
Technical director Matt Jackson said: “It’s taken a huge amount of work from many people across the club to put together a comprehensive bid for promotion. Credit goes to the team at Compton Park and the ownership for their time and dedication towards supporting the bid.
“Since last season we’ve been working towards this moment, doing the groundwork to put us into a position where we could support the bid. In that time, we’ve hired full-time, dedicated women’s staff to assist the process, and it’s been a fantastic, collective job to complete a detailed and all-encompassing piece of work.
“Our women’s first-team have done a fantastic job to put us in a position, once more, where we’re fighting to get promoted to WSL 2, and we’ll be supporting them all the way in their bid to go up during the remainder of the season.”
The application process has been undertaken by a cross-departmental group of staff including, but not limited to:
Nathan Shi (Interim executive chairman), Max Fitzgerald (PR and communications director), Matt Jackson (technical director), Emma Rowley (women and girls’ operations lead), Craig Bratt (women’s media and marketing manager), Todd Newton (marketing manager), Luke Shelley (Academy operations manager), Yung Tran (associate strategic partner) Dan McNamara (Wolves Women manager), and the Wolves Women Advisory Board, consisting of Jenny Wilkes, Lynsey Hooper, Caren Davies, Claire Hakeman and Anna Price.
