WSL 2 side Durham Women face threat of closure in 3 weeks amid desperate plea for investment

Durham Women FC - who operate in Women’s Super League 2 - have issued a desperate plea for offers of investment into the club - otherwise they will ‘cease operations’ in 3 weeks.

Durham Women, who play in the same league as Sunderland Women & Newcastle United, last season finished 10th out of 12 teams in the division - the second tier of women's football in England. But they are facing a funding crisis and have issued a lengthy statement outlining the challenges facing the club.

A statement read: “Durham Women Football Club can today confirm that the club is seeking offers for investment into or the complete purchase of the football club. The club has been in prolonged talks with potential investors for several months but these have fallen away in recent weeks. Unfortunately, without this additional investment the club does not have sufficient funds to operate in a fully compliant way in the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 for the 2026/27 season.

“We have today informed staff and players that unless a buyer or investor comes forward within the next 21 days, the club will have to cease operations at all levels.”

The club was founded in 2007 as a single under-10 girls grassroots team, before expanding quickly.

Their statement added: “All of the above has been achieved without the backing of a men’s professional team – but the club’s current majority shareholders can no longer keep pace with the development of the women’s game. The club needs to continue – and they are now seeking to pass this over to a party who can build on this legacy and realise the opportunities that the club has moving forward.”

Durham, nicknamed the Wildcats, have reached the Women's FA Cup quarter-finals twice and also the League Cup last eight on two occasions. They ended last season with Neil Redfearn as coach for the final six games. Both Newcastle United and Sunderland also now compete in WSL 2, alongside Durham Women.

The Durham Women Football Club statement in full:

“Durham Women Football Club can today confirm that the club is seeking offers for investment into or the complete purchase of the football club. The club has been in prolonged talks with potential investors for several months but these have fallen away in recent weeks. Unfortunately, without this additional investment the club does not have sufficient funds to operate in a fully compliant way in the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 for the 2026/27 season.

“We have today informed staff and players that unless a buyer or investor comes forward within the next 21 days, the club will have to cease operations at all levels. This would bring to a close nearly 20 years of championing the development of women’s and girl’s football in the North East. The club was founded in 2007 as a single under-10 girls grassroots team, before expanding quickly and becoming major achievers in the game. Some players from that team remain members of our first-team squad today.

“The club’s first season as senior side finished in a Northern Women’s Combination League trophy before Durham were accepted into the WSL structure ahead of the 2014 season. Since then, the club have competed strongly in the second tier of elite women’s football – narrowly missing out on promotion on several occasions while reaching the FA Cup Quarter Final twice and the League Cup Quarter Final twice. That on-field success was accompanied by rapidly-growing attendances and sell-out crowds as Durham went toe-to-toe with the biggest names in the game.

“For a period, Durham were the only North East club playing in the WSL and were also the first club in the region to obtain a licence for a Professional Game Academy – which has continued to grow from strength-to-strength, with the club’s Under-16 and Under-21 teams both reaching national finals last season.

“All of the above has been achieved without the backing of a men’s professional team – but the club’s current majority shareholders can no longer keep pace with the development of the women’s game. The club needs to continue – and they are now seeking to pass this over to a party who can build on this legacy and realise the opportunities that the club has moving forward.

“We would encourage all interested parties to register their interest as soon as practically possible by emailing [email protected].”