WSL Teams Discuss Possibility of 6-Week 'Neutral Base' Conclusion to 2019/20 Season
By Ali Rampling
The Women's Super League season could be finished over six weeks at one central location in order to prevent the campaign being declared null and void.
The coronavirus outbreak has seen football suspended indefinitely since March, and with UK lockdown extended for another three weeks at least, the date to resume league seasons continues to be pushed back.
All tiers below the Women's Championship have had their seasons cancelled and results expunged, however the top two divisions still intend to complete the campaign.
According to BBC Sport, options on how best to conclude the campaign were discussed on a conference call between WSL clubs on Thursday.
St George's Park, the FA's national football centre, is being lined up as a potential central base to complete the remaining 45 league fixtures at.
This would involve all games being played behind closed doors, with teams playing two matches per week. The earliest the season can resume - government advice dependent - would be the weekend of 6-7 June. This is reliant on teams being able to return to training in the final week of May.
This proposed schedule would see the season wrapped up by the weekend of 18-19 July.
An FA spokesperson told BBC Sport: "We are in the early stages of assessing what options are available for when it is safe and appropriate to resume the FA WSL and FA WC seasons.
"This includes the potential use of neutral venues. Any scenarios are under constant review in line with the latest government advice. We are in regular contact with all clubs and the safety and welfare of everybody involved remains our priority."
The FA wants to WSL and Women's Championship's next steps to follow any decisions made by the Premier League, while following guidance from Uefa due to the WSL having two Champions League qualifying places.
Those spots are currently occupied by Manchester City and Chelsea. City lead the WSL by a point, but second place Chelsea have a game in hand.