Sunderland Ladies update as Lady Black Cats eye return to training

The Lady Black Cats were 11 points clear of second-placed Derby County and unbeaten in the FAWNL, having also reached a cup final before COVID-19 cut short their season last March

The FA then made the hugely controversial decision to declare tiers three to seven null and void.

Following that decision, several players in Mel Reay’s squad have now moved on to new challenges – including Charlotte Potts, Bridget Galloway, Mollie Lambert, Katie Barker Georgia Gibson and Rachel Woolston.

But the Echo understands that Sunderland are set to return to training this week, although nothing is yet known about who the club will face in pre-season or where fixtures will be played.

Fellow North East clubs in tiers two to four – Durham, Middlesbrough, and Newcastle Women – have started pre-season programmes, with the trio returning to friendly action in recent weeks.

It is understood that Sunderland Ladies are set to the sign ex-Middlesbrough Women duo Olivia Watt and Emily Scarr, but it is unclear when the deals will be announced.

The club’s last post on social media came over a month ago, when prolific goalscorer Galloway departed.

Speaking in July, executive director Neil Fox said the club remained committed to the team with financial director Angela Lowes adding that ‘everything was in place’ to apply for a spot in the Championship had last season concluded, and that a future application would be welcomed by the FA.