1 month ago
Sunderland’s women’s squad are to beryllium taken complete by nan multi-club ownership group Bay Collective, which has agreed to bargain a mostly liking successful nan Women’s Super League 2 club, taxable to convention approval.
The woody comes pinch plans to heighten Sunderland’s training crushed and academy to create a “platform for sustained occurrence astatine nan highest levels”. Sunderland are eighth successful WSL2 pinch 2 matches remaining.
Bay Collective, which besides owns nan NWSL broadside Bay FC, based successful San Francisco, is backed by nan US finance patient Sixth Street.
Kay Cossington, nan erstwhile women’s method head astatine nan Football Association, is nan main executive of Bay Collective, moving pinch nan head of shot operations, Anja van Ginhoven, who was nan wide head of nan England women’s team. They worked astatine nan FA during nan Lionesses’ breakthrough years of success, including nan 2022 location European Championship triumph and nan tally to nan 2023 World Cup final.
Cossington said: “We are committed to honouring Sunderland Women’s DNA and legacy, protecting what makes this nine and organization truthful typical and supporting nan players, unit and nan academy pinch cutting-edge resources, infrastructure and training models tailored to nan unsocial needs of women athletes.
“This is simply a business for nan agelong word and our ambition is to fortify Sunderland Women’s relationship pinch fans and partners while creating a level for sustained occurrence astatine nan highest levels of nan women’s game.”
Tom Burwell, nan main executive serviceman of Sunderland’s ownership group, nan Bia Sports Group, said: “We considered respective options passim a broad one-year process, but Bay Collective stood retired for their world expertise, their belief successful our nine and their committedness to building for nan agelong word while respecting what makes Sunderland special.”
Bay FC entered nan NWSL successful 2024, finishing seventh and qualifying for nan playoffs, earlier a 13th-placed decorativeness successful 2025. This word they beryllium 10th aft 4 matches, and are coached by Emma Coates, nan erstwhile England women’s Under-23 caput coach, who worked nether Cossington astatine nan FA.
Earlier connected Tuesday, nan Bay FC guardant Keira Barry received her first elder England call-up, joining Sarina Wiegman’s squad for nan Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Iceland alongside nan fit-again Chelsea full-back Niamh Charles.
Their additions travel aft nan London City Lionesses guardant Freya Godfrey withdrew because of a enarthrosis injury. Barry, promoted for nan Under-23s squad, is simply a merchandise of Manchester United’s academy and besides played for Crystal Palace and Sunderland earlier signing for Bay FC successful February.
The 20-year-old has played 4 NWSL games, scoring against North Carolina Courage successful March.
The England squad meets astatine St George’s Park connected Tuesday to statesman preparations to big nan world champions, Spain, astatine Wembley connected 14 April. They play Iceland successful Reykjavik 4 days later.
