Women’s Super League players paid 50 times less than male counterparts, a study finds

Women’s Super League players are making 50 times less money than their male counterparts, according to findings from Telegraph Sport. 

The investigation, which involved consultation with agents, players and coaches from across the 12 WSL clubs, found that salaries range from as little as £20,000 per year to as much as £250,000, plus bonuses. 

Birmingham City and Tottenham Hotspur were found to be spending the least on employee wages, with Birmingham’s coming to less than £19,000. Both clubs’ average salary was also found to have fallen below the national average wage. 

The Telegraph claim sources have stressed that salaries at the club have improved, but regardless, they remain the league’s lowest spenders. 

Indeed, former Birmingham manager Carla Ward resigned last year over concerns surrounding poor wages, lack of treatment for injured players, minimal access to training facilities and the club’s refusal to cover away travel costs. 

That being said, Ward, who now manages Birmingham’s West Midlands rivals Aston Villa, has emphasised that it’s important women’s teams do not get ahead of themselves when it comes to player salaries. 

Many staff and players want wages to increase in line with the growth of women’s football in recent years, especially with the WSL’s recent broadcasting deal with Sky and the BBC. 

Yet, Ward believes teams could develop problems if they decide to increase pay too quickly.

“If we go too high on wages too soon, it could sink teams and that’s where we’ve got to be really, really careful that we don’t go too big too soon,” she told The Telegraph. 

“That’s because the crowds aren’t quite there yet [and] the commercial revenue is not there yet.

“We’re getting there but we have to also take steps