Mel Reay sanctions ANOTHER departure at Sunderland Ladies with a further deal possible

Summer signing Olivia Watt left Mel Reay’s squad last week, just months after re-joining the Lady Black Cats, to concentrate on her university studies and allow her troublesome knees to recover.

Further to the ex-Middlesbrough star’s shock exit, youngster Beau Studholme has also departed, joining South Shields on a dual registration deal.

That means the Cumbria-born player will be effectively loaned to the Black Cats’ North East neighbours.

The versatile 18-year-old England youth international linked up with Sunderland during the summer, but has been allowed turnout for South Shields in order to gain match experience.

Indeed, Studholme started for her new club yesterday against Wallsend BC Ladies.

And The Echo understands Mel Reay is mulling over the possibility of allowing fellow England youth starlet Emily Hutchinson to join teammate Studholme at Mariners Park on a similar deal.

The highly-rated attacker recently returned to action following long injury lay-off but has struggled for opportunities thus far.

The Lasses suffered a 2-1 defeat to West Brom at Sutton Coldfield Central on Sunday, making it just nine points from their opening seven FAWNL fixtures.

The result leaves Sunderland Ladies seven points behind FAWNL pace-setters AFC Fylde and Huddersfield Town, who sit in first and second place respectively.

“We were definitely worth a point today, for sure. We just need to start taking chances and it’ll come,” Reay said post-match to safc.com. “We can’t get too disappointed about the game, we just have to keep going.

"We have to work hard in training this week, ready for Nottingham Forest next weekend.”