The Women’s Super League and Championship are preparing to break free from the Football Association after the top two tiers unanimously agreed to be governed by a new, independent body from next season. Former Nike and Citigroup executive Nikki Doucet has been appointed to lead the organisation, NewCo, effective immediately, and will oversee plans for all 24 clubs to move into the new governance structure ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. Each club who participates in the WSL and Championship will act as shareholders under the NewCo model, which has long been in the works and is seen as an important step in growing what an independent review concluded this summer has potential to become a billion-pound domestic women’s football industry within 10 years. Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA’s director of women’s football, said: “The women’s professional game is in the strongest place that it has ever been thanks to the hard work of everybody involved in its development so far, but we firmly believe that the NewCo will take it to another level entirely. “Each of our 24 clubs and the league itself wants the Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship to be setting the standards for women’s football around the world, and this venture into a new governing body is the next step in us achieving that ambition. “This is a historical moment for the women’s professional game in this country, and it is a move that will see our clubs and players make even bigger strides both on and off the pitch.” Former England international Karen Carney led the independent review into the women’s game, commissioned by the government in 2022, concluding in July that “women’s football is a start-up business.” “If you’re starting something you have to have an influx of money. In 10 years’ time I really do believe this sport could be a billion-pound industry,” she said. This is a historical moment for the women’s professional game in this country, and it is a move that will see our clubs and players make even bigger strides both on and off the pitch Baroness Sue Campbell NewCo, a restructure of power similar to the Premier League’s 20-club governance model, is viewed by many as a critical next phase in the commercial growth of the English women’s game. A working group chaired by Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham, with Doucet serving as an independent consultant, led on developing the proposal for NewCo and involved 10 representatives from WSL and Championship clubs including Crystal Palace chair Steve Parish and Patrick Stewart, who earlier this month was appointed interim chief at Manchester United. Venkatesham added: “This is a pivotal moment in the history of the women’s professional game, as we look to work together to build the most distinctive, competitive and entertaining women’s football club competition in the world. “Setting up NewCo provides the opportunity to accelerate the sustainable growth of the women’s game and will not only support the development of the Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship, but the entirety of the women’s football pyramid. “It has been a constructive and collective effort to get to this stage, and Nikki’s appointment encapsulates the ambition we have for NewCo. With her vision for women’s football, the future is incredibly bright.” Asked for her thoughts on the news, England forward Beth Mead told a press conference: “We want the game to move to a new level and keep pushing it forward and I think although the FA has done an amazing job over so many years, it was time to let go of those stabilisers and let somebody else take over. “Hopefully in the long run that can help us push the game and the leagues to the next level and ultimately that’s what we want to keep doing. I think the sky’s the limit and we have to keep pushing it there.” Read More Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink wants aspiring black managers to get ‘a fair chance’ ECB boss admits challenges remain for cricket after positive impact report England’s Zach Mercer installs oxygen chamber at home to combat ankle injury Tom Daley targets Paris 2024 in return to British Swimming’s World Class Programme Former Sheffield United and Everton defender Phil Jagielka announces retirement Bruno Fernandes excited for ‘amazing’ atmosphere at Galatasaray

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager left their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he hurt his right hand on a headfirst slide on a double in the eighth inning against his former team

The Minnesota Vikings haven't won a road game on Thursday night in almost five decades. Is tonight the night the streak ends?

A clear and obvious call that the refs got wrong.

They might not be Cricket World Cup contenders or even make the semifinals, but Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh all have the potential to beat many of the top teams because of their skillful spin bowlers

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada may have a burner Twitter account, at least per a fan investigation.

MADRID Soccer's ruling world body FIFA said on Saturday it had suspended Spanish federation chief Luis Rubiales from

UNLV will host Boise State in the Mountain West Conference championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday after a computer ranking was used to break a three-way tie for first place

Andy Pilley has stepped down as chairman and director of Fleetwood as discussions continue surrounding a change of ownership and control at the Sky Bet League One club. Pilley will be sentenced next month after being convicted on four counts of fraud. The 52-year-old was found guilty last week of two counts of fraudulent trading, fraud by false representation and being involved in the acquisition, retention, use or control of the proceeds of fraudulently mis-sold energy contracts. Pilley was remanded in custody and he will be sentenced on July 3. Also chairman of BES Utilities, Pilley had been involved in High Court litigation with Cheshire West and Chester Council, but lost a civil court fight over investigating allegations of mis-selling. Pilley had been the chairman and owner of Fleetwood for 20 years and overseen the club’s rise from non-league status to the English Football League. In announcing the boardroom changes, Fleetwood, who finished 13th last season, said it would be “business as usual” while working through the transition of ownership. A statement on Friday afternoon read: “Fleetwood Town can confirm Andy Pilley has stepped down as chairman and director of the club. “Steve Curwood, who has been the club’s CEO for 15 years, will be appointed interim chairman with current vice chairman Phil Brown to join the board as a director. “The club have this week entered discussions with the EFL in relation to requirements surrounding a change of ownership and control. “The club would also like to clarify there will be no other changes to the board before the planned change of ownership. “In the meantime, the club will continue to operate business as usual and will make a further announcement in due course.”

Holders the United States survived a huge scare to reach the last 16 of the Women's World Cup on Tuesday after a 0-0 draw against Portugal, who were unlucky not to claim a sensational win at Eden...

A clip of Nadine Dorries criticising MPs who don't listen to their constituents has resurfaced as the MP clings onto her seat despite saying she would resign. In 2014, the MP made a speech in the commons claiming MPs should respect the concerns of their local constituents rather than get involved in party political issues. She said: "Where MPs do fall down is where they ignore their constituents.” The Mid Bedfordshire MP also told her parliamentary colleagues that her constituents know she is not a “party political MP” and when she’s in her constituency, she “represents everybody, regardless of who they vote for”. She said: “They also know that I will go the extra mile. I don’t do surgeries once a month, I do them, most times, every week. “They know I don’t get involved in grubby games or political games in parliament. They know I represent them. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “I put my constituency before my party,” she added. This is ironic as in June the MP said she would resign with immediate effect having not got a seat in the House of Lords. But months later, she is still there, but she hasn't even spoke in the House of Commons since Boris Johnson resigned so doesn't exactly seem committed to her role. So much so that her own local council have called on her to step down because her constituents are being denied “effective representative” in parliament. Meanwhile, given she has consistently criticised PM Rishi Sunak and called him out for being posh. With that in mind, campaign group Best for Britain posted the clip of her 2014 speech on Twitter where it duly went viral, racking up over 1.2 million views at the time of writing. Very awkward indeed. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The full history of Champions League winners from 1993 through today includes legends of the sport at their absolute peak.For almost 70 years, ultimate supremacy over the European club soccer scene has been determined by the Champions League (or European Cup as it was once known).Clubs who r...