At the end of what has been a difficult season, Yeovil Town Ladies have received the news that they won't be competing in the Women's Championship next season after their licence application to compete in the league was rejected.
The Lady Glovers were relegated from the Women's Super League after receiving a ten-point for entering Administration earlier this season - but avoided insolvency due to staff cuts and - which ensured that they would finish bottom of the league. Sadly, they have now been told by the Football Association that they don't meet the relevant criteria to compete in the league.
However, the club have insisted that the possess a viable business plan.
Relegation from the top tier had meant that Yeovil would be reverting to part-time status, after turning full-time to meet the requirements for the Women's Super League last summer, but the FA requested to see proof of sponsorship income before issuing a licence - leaving them in a catch-22 situation.
The FA now have to decide whether to replace the Lady Glovers or not, or whether to open up applications for a licence from another club.
Since they first entered the Women's Super League in 2014 when they competed in WSL 2, the Lady Glovers gradually improved year on year, which culminated in promotion to the top-flight in 2016 by winning the WSL 2 title.
Now they have joined the likes of Sunderland Ladies, who dropped down from the Women's Super League to the Women's National League North, who were also unsuccessful in their bid for a licence.
Sheffield FC and Doncaster Rovers Belles also withdrew from the Championship last summer and Notts County Ladies were forced to fold in 2017.
