A Step Backward for Southampton as Budget Cuts Cause Upset

From the high of finishing the season with a 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton FC Women have been hit with devastating news during the summer break.

Ahead of the 2026/27 season, Southampton are set to make significant cuts to their women’s and girl’s programme reaching around £500,000. Around £100,000 of these cuts are expected to directly impact the senior team with the large remainder of the cuts expected to impact the club’s women’s and girl’s programme, including the demotion of the academy from Category 1 to Category 2 status.

This scenario has been compared to those of Reading and Blackburn Rovers, both of whom were demoted from the second tier after failing to fulfil the league’s financial requirements.

Last season, multiple club and team sources say it was communicated to the Saints’ players that promotion to the Barclays Women’s Super League wasn’t a desirable outcome due to the increased funding and investment requirements for doing so. Southampton finished fifth in the WSL2 last season, missing out on promotion for the fourth successive campaign despite high expectations on the back of consistent performances and ambitions.

The Head of Women’s and Girl’s Football, Marieanne Spacey-Cale MBE is reportedly set to resign in the light of the news. She was given this role in July 2018, and won the double in her first season in charge as head coach. On top of this, several long-serving and vital players in the women’s squad have departed this summer: Atlanta Primus, Aimee Palmer and Jess Simpson among others.

St Mary’s Stadium is reportedly no longer going to be the regular home stadium of the women’s team, with the majority of home matches instead taking place at Eastleigh’s Silverlake Stadium. Since 2022, Southampton Women have made St Mary’s their home, building an electrifying atmosphere. In January 2026, the Saints secured a record league attendance against south-coast rivals, Portsmouth. A staggering 7,561 supporters came together to roar the Saints on, as they ran out 4-0 victors. Another huge step backwards with a potential permanent move back to Eastleigh, after attendance records surpassed expectations with the growing fanbase for Southampton Women in recent years.

This news comes as a massive shock to everyone who supports Southampton, showing a change in direction from when the club set out their ambition to reach the WSL upon turning professional in 2022, to the situation which is unfolding now.