The Women’s Championship club Coventry United have announced they are going into voluntary liquidation, halfway through their first season as a fully professional club.
Coventry, second bottom of the second tier, confirmed the news on Thursday hours after one player tweeted that they were heartbroken to discover they no longer had a job. The club’s website lists a squad of 21 players and it was announced on Friday that 30 people would have their contracts of employment terminated. Liquidation is expected on 4 January.
“With regret the board of directors have instructed BK Plus Limited to assist with placing the company/club into creditors voluntary liquidation,” a club statement said. “At this point we cannot go into detail … We would like to thank everyone for the support over the last seven years. The club will keep you updated on developments of the club’s future.”
The Coventry and Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark tweeted: “I have no words. To come into work and to find out that you no longer have the job that you’ve always dreamed of is heartbreaking. Thanks for making me a professional footballer and for the best two seasons.”
Her teammate Holly Chandler echoed those sentiments. “Sometimes life is filled with things outside your control! I’m heartbroken,” she wrote.
Coventry, in their third season in the Championship, were next due to play on 9 January against Bristol City. The FA, which allows clubs to participate in the Women’s Super League and Championship only if they meet licensing criteria, said: “We are liaising with all relevant parties. Our priority right now is to gain as much information as possible to ensure we can provide the right support to those associated with the club.”
The FA’s owners’ and directors’ test applies to Championship clubs. Under the governing bodies rules, Coventry’s results will be expunged if they cease to operate.
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The Manchester City Women and England defender Alex Greenwood tweeted: “The sacrifices these girls make to become professional footballers to be told halfway through a season you no longer have a job, or a club, is simply not good enough.”
BK Plus Limited said on Friday the club had been advertised for sale at the start of December but that no offers were received and salaries due at the end of the month could not be paid.
“The directors of the company have explained that the company suffered financially as a consequence of Covid when games were being played behind closed doors, and potential sponsors were difficult to attract,” BK Plus said. “We understand that in November 2021, the company’s shareholders indicated that due to current global impact of Brexit and the financial impact of Covid-19, they would be unable to invest any further money in the company.”
It said Coventry’s employees could make claims to the government’s redundancy payments service.
