England women footballers secure central contract increase
Last updated on .From the section Football
The England women's football team are set to receive a £4,000 pay increase following successful negotiations with the Football Association.
Players are said to be satisfied with the deal, with their central contracts rising from £16,000 to £20,000 a year.
The new package, set to be confirmed in the next few days, also increases the number of hours players can work in secondary jobs to 24 a week.
A liaison committee and a bonus scheme have been introduced.
The 20 players under central contracts have been represented by the Professional Footballers' Association and were not paid in December while talks took place - though the FA said it always expected a satisfactory resolution.
The union covered the December shortfall and contributed money to the new contracts, which England players earn on top of semi-professional deals with their clubs.
At club level, Women's Super League rules mean teams are only allowed to pay four players £20,000 or more a year.
PFA chief Gordon Taylor called the previous package "embarrassing" and England defender Sophie Bradley told BBC Sport that if players earned more money, they would be able to focus on training without the distractions or stress of work.
She also argued that players should be rewarded for the part they had played in English football's recent success.
If players wish to continue working, the new deal increases the part-time hours they are permitted from 18 to 24 per week.
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Low quality = poor revenue = no investment or new talent = low quality
They already have club contracts and likely sponsorship/image rights deals as well. This £20,000 p/a comes on top. Why would they need extra jobs? This is an absolute lie by Gordon Taylor.
You don't need an extra job if you earn what these greedy women were already earning.
If the women's game becomes popular and the women successful with it then more power to them. I wish people like Francine all the best.
My only issue is that people (men or women) don't have a right to demand financial support for doing something they love even if they're good at it. Activities like football played for enjoyment and to entertain people need to be self-financing
just ignores you and makes the same repetitive statement that the women are good when the miniscule crowds prove otherwise
the english women will not improve or win anything, but b marsh still won't accept that the increase is wasted money!
Men are perfectly capable of cooking
** the worlds best chefs are men.
and let them have control of their own finances
** I agree. stop the subsidies from mens sports and let the women EARN THEIR OWN FINANCES
men earned low wages for about SIX DECADES before the maximum wage was abolished
the men are paid big money now because of the sponsors and the massive audience mens footy attracts around the globe
women want to by-pass those FACTS and speed up their claim to higher money despite the fact it's a minority sport
don't compare womens and mens football COMPARE IT TO OTHER MINORITY SPORTS
womens football LOSES money and that's before they are paid a penny!
it seems that ALL the people who have something positive to say about the womens game (and their entire family) on here are the only people who go to games
I have my suspision that b marsh is in fact IN THE WOMENS ENGLAND TEAM!
womens footy is rubbish and always will be!
How can the FA justify £20gr x however many, no sponsorship or crowd. America have the largest group of players world wide, especially at the younger age groups, in the States they cant sustain sponsorship to keep a pro league. Nothing against the ladies playing, why subsidised it with money, from people who have little interest. Why don’t more women watch it?
Francine, whilst I admire your clear passion, unfortunately the world is not like that. You will only get paid a percentage of the money that companies/clubs can make off of you, and women's football will never be as big as men's football, rugby, cricket...
I'm really sorry, but please don't start with this New Feminism talk.
I hope we are all now mature enough to agree that men and women are different without being labelled a sexist.
Men are better at somethings and women at others. Biologically men have more muscles which means that, in general, men will become stronger and faster, and hence is one reason why men's sport will be more popular
Sorry ladies there's not a lot of paying interest in the women's game. Harsh maybe but true.