Galway WFC decide against SSE Airtricity WNL entry for 2023

Galway WFC are to step away from the SSE Airtricity Women's National League next season, club chairman Stephen Moran has confirmed.

RTÉ Sport understands however that men's league side Galway United will take over the club, allowing elite league soccer to remain in the western capital for 2023.

"The board of Galway WFC have reluctantly decided not to apply for inclusion in next season's SSE Airtricity Women's National League," Moran said in a statement.

"It is imperative that elite women's football remains in the region next season and we hope that other individuals or entities will take up the mantle to continue the tradition of senior and underage women's football in Galway in 2023."

The current Galway club first entered the Women's National League in the 2013-14 season where they finished sixth. Their highest placing was fourth, which they achieved in the 15/16, 2018 and 2019 seasons.

The club are currently fifth in the table after 22 rounds of fixtures.

If Galway United were to complete a takeover, they would become the seventh club to enter teams in both the women's and men's national leagues.