Hull City Ladies Football Club is embroiled in controversy following a request from chairman Daniel Johnson for the team to be relegated from the third tier of English women’s football. This move comes amid a series of serious allegations made by the players regarding the management of the club’s finances and the overall handling of its operations.
The players have raised concerns that Johnson’s decision to seek relegation is a retaliatory action against them. The squad recently expressed dissatisfaction publicly, with several team members posting on social media, highlighting their fears about the club’s future. They allege that the team could face closure in the near future due to the dire financial situation they believe the club is facing. Multiple sources within the club have claimed that there is a significant financial gap at least £200,000 unaccounted for in the club’s accounts over the past five seasons. This has raised suspicions about possible mismanagement.
In addition to these financial concerns, the players have reported other serious issues. It has emerged that Hull City Ladies do not have medical insurance for their players, and the club is also without a strength and conditioning coach, both crucial elements for maintaining player welfare. Over the past 18 months, eight players have suffered serious knee injuries, raising further concerns. One player, Hope Knight, expressed on social media that the lack of adequate care was not coincidental, stating that it resulted from treating footballers as “an afterthought” and prioritizing financial gain over their well-being.
The allegations of mismanagement have not only come from players but also from staff members, many of whom have expressed their dissatisfaction with Johnson’s leadership. These individuals have taken their complaints to the Football Association (FA), which is now investigating the situation and working with the club to find a resolution. Johnson’s decision to request relegation is highly unlikely to succeed, as the FA typically requires such requests to come from a club’s board of directors, supported by evidence. It is understood that Johnson acted alone in making the submission, without backing from other club officials.
Hull City Ladies are currently sitting in ninth place in the Northern Premier Division, comfortably 14 points clear of the relegation zone with one match remaining. Despite this, Johnson’s request for relegation appears to be an extreme response to the growing unrest within the club.
The discontent at Hull City Ladies is not limited to the players and staff; it has also affected club ambassadors. Former England captain Carol Thomas, who held a prominent ambassadorial role at the club, publicly resigned due to the allegations against Johnson. In her resignation statement, Thomas cited the direct conflict between the revelations she had received from staff, players, and sponsors, and her own personal standards. She emphasized that she could only consider returning to the club if it could be proven that the club was being managed according to high ethical standards.
The turmoil at Hull City Ladies highlights the difficulties some women’s football clubs face in securing proper management and resources. The allegations of financial mismanagement, lack of player welfare provisions, and leadership issues have cast a shadow over the club’s future, leaving the players and staff in a difficult and uncertain position.
