Portsmouth Women transition to full-time playing model

Portsmouth Women has confirmed the team will be transitioning into a full-time professional playing model ahead of the 2024/25 season.

The move comes after Pompey secured their place in the Barclays Women's Championship for the first time having finished top of the National League Southern Premier Division last season.

The model will see players offered professional contracts for the first time in the club's history.

More widely, full-time backroom staff members will be made available, allowing contact time to increase with more on-pitch sessesions, increased gym programmes and further off-pitch support.

CEO Andrew Cullen said: "[It's] an exciting time for women's football in Portsmouth and across the United Kingdom.

"This will have a huge impact on our competitiveness in a higher division, as well as enabling our players to achieve their dreams of becoming professional footballers for the first time in their lives."

Head coach, Jay Sadler added: "This is a signiciant step forward for the club and we are incredibly excited about moving to a full-time professional modeal. this transition will allow us to increase our contact time, enhance our preparation, and ultimately enable us to compete at a higher level.

"By providing our players and staff with the opportunity to train and develop on a full-time basis, we will unlock further potential and heavily increase our chances of achieving even more success for the club."

Off the pitch, the club announced it will be appointing a general manager/head of football, a women's safeguarding and player welfare officer, and a sales and marketing executive.

READ THE LATEST WOMEN'S FOOTBALL NEWS, ANALYSIS AND PLAYER RATINGS