It has been coming for a while, and now the first significant hurdle has been cleared. The FA Women's National League board has given its backing to a proposal that would see four Women's Super League professional game academies — PGAs, in the jargon — enter the third tier of English women's football from 2027. The plans now head to the Football Association for further discussion, with a final decision anticipated in July.

The news will land differently depending on which part of the pyramid you occupy. At the top end, clubs like Manchester City have been vocal advocates. Their managing director Charlotte O'Neill put the case plainly earlier this month, pointing to the example set by Barcelona's B team in Spain. "If you're asking me would I love to be able to put a B team into the national pyramid, absolutely," she said. "It would be hugely beneficial for the Lionesses, not just us." City are among the frontrunners to be selected, should the FA ratify the proposal — and the champions would likely enter National League North.

Under the framework as currently understood, the four chosen academies would be awarded three-year licences on the basis of academy quality and the proportion of English talent they develop. Crucially, those sides would be prohibited from winning promotion to the second tier, though they would not be immune to relegation. The remaining WSL clubs' academies would stay in their existing competitions.

There is also something notably absent from the approved package: a mid-season split, similar to the format used in Scottish women's football, is understood to have been dropped from the original proposals. Whether that concession was enough to soften the opposition remains to be seen.

Because there is genuine opposition, and it has been loud. Lower-league clubs have raised pointed questions about what adding well-resourced academy sides means for the established community clubs already competing in tier three. Ian Chiverton, chair of Portsmouth's supporters club, accused the authorities of "pandering to the WSL teams". Danny Taylor, assistant manager at Mancunian Unity in the North West regional league, called the idea an "absolute disgrace". Several coaches took to social media to argue the FA was simply reheating a scrapped proposal to introduce WSL B teams under a different name.

The FA's director of women's football, Sue Day, has defended the direction of travel, describing the current moment as a "crucial turning point" for the game. Her argument is a developmental one: too many talented young English players are falling through the gaps between academy football and the senior game, and a stronger pathway benefits not just the clubs but the national team further down the line. It is a coherent case, and not an entirely unfamiliar one from a governing body perspective.

What it does not fully answer is the concern from clubs who have built themselves up through the traditional pyramid — the semi-professional sides playing in front of loyal supporters on Saturday afternoons who worry that a flood of WSL resources and brand recognition into their tier will distort competition and squeeze them out of the picture. The three-year licence and the promotion bar are safeguards of a sort, but critics argue they do not go far enough.

The package reportedly also includes a potential investment of around £1 million for the FAWNL, improvements to the loan system's legal and medical support, and the introduction of play-offs in tier four. Whether those sweeteners are sufficient to bring the wider game on board is the political question the FA now faces as it heads into the summer consultation process.

With a decision expected in July, the debate is far from over — but the direction of travel is becoming clear.

Frequently asked

Which WSL clubs could enter the third tier with an academy side?
The four places will be awarded based on the strength of each club's academy and the proportion of English talent they develop. Manchester City are among the clubs understood to be interested, with their managing director having publicly backed the idea.
Can WSL academy sides get promoted to the second tier under the new rules?
No. Under the proposed framework, the four selected academy sides would be barred from promotion to the second tier, though they would still be subject to relegation. They would operate on an initial three-year licence.
When will the FA make a final decision on WSL academy sides joining the FAWNL?
The FA Women's National League board has given its approval and the proposal now goes to the Football Association for further discussion. A final decision is expected in July 2026.