England players label Birmingham Women’s alleged working conditions 'unacceptable' as football unites behind WSL team

England players have labelled the alleged conditions for Birmingham City Women’s players “unacceptable” and voiced their support for Birmingham’s squad, after the West Midlands club’s players submitted a formal complaint to their board.

Every member of Birmingham's squad signed the letter, seen by Telegraph Sport, outlining two pages of specific grievances about access to facilities, medical provisions and a lack of hotels for away games, as well as concerns over wages.

It is understood that the players’ union, the Professional Footballers Association, have been in dialogue with senior players at Birmingham throughout the season.

• Special WSL report: Birmingham Women hit out at club for 'preventing us doing our jobs'

Manager Carla Ward is working as a liaison between the players and the board to try and help reach positive solutions, and the Football Association are also understood to be supporting the club to ensure they can complete their remaining fixtures.

Speaking ahead of Friday’s international friendly against France, England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck said: “We’re at a level now in the women’s game where that’s not acceptable at all.

“It is a difficult one to comment but yes I am shocked. We’re making such good progressions both on and off the field, with the likes of the new broadcast deal, I’d like to think we are going in an upwards direction [but] we all need it to be at a level which can help girls perform to the best of their ability. It’s unacceptable and hopefully it will get resolved.”

Arsenal and England centre-back Lotte Wubben-Moy stressed the importance of women’s players standing up for each other, adding: “What’s important is that these things are spoken about. I respect them for speaking out.

"It’s important their voices are heard and I hope their board of directors take into account what they’re saying.

“That’s one of the nicest things about women’s football - we come together, we stick together. We know we can progress this game but we know it’s not just one voice that can do that. We come together through the good, the bad and the ugly and it’s important we continue to allow our voices to be heard.”

Among the numerous allegations made by Birmingham's players in their letter is a concern that their coaching team are not paid to work sufficient hours each week to meet the WSL’s licence rules, something which it is understood the FA are investigating.

The players’ letter reads: “We have concern that as a professional club it is unacceptable that our members of staff are not all full-time employees. The Tier 1 club licence stipulates that we are required to have a full-time assistant coach - this is not the case. In a professional environment this is unacceptable as there is only one technical coach in two session per week."

Birmingham City have not yet commented in response to that specific point within the players’ letter, however, on Sunday a club spokesperson told Telegraph Sport: “It’s no secret we have one of the lowest budgets in the league, Covid has only compounded this. This certainly makes it difficult to compete, but we’re doing our best on and off the pitch in what is a very difficult time for professional football.”

Reaction: Women's football community rallies around Birmingham City

By Molly McElwee

The women's football community has rallied around Birmingham City after Telegraph Sport revealed their squad had sent a formal list of complaints to the club about their working conditions.

England internationals Fran Kirby, Leah Williamson and Beth England were among dozens who shared their support for their fellow Women’s Super League players in Birmingham, who on Monday spoke out about concerns they say “prevent us from performing our jobs to the best of our ability”.

The entire first-team squad signed a letter to the club’s board listing grievances that included access to changing facilities and gyms, and a limited playing budget.

The club responded by insisting they were “doing our best on and off the pitch” for the players, but Birmingham captain Christie Murray tweeted the Telegraph Sport report and her frustration on Monday: “The girls deserve better; the women’s game deserves better. More needs to be done to create an elite environment moving forward.”

Team-mate Harriet Scott added: “Throughout all the difficulties this season the players are unified. We have a dressing room that will work themselves into the ground for each other. The players [and] the women’s game deserves better.” An outpouring of solidarity from some of the biggest names in the league followed.

“It’s a shame in 2021 we still have women’s teams competing in the top league in England having to ask for help like this,” Chelsea forward Kirby tweeted. “We should all be given the chance to perform at the highest level we can, Birmingham Women, we all stand with you.”

Team-mate England said: “I hope their voices will be heard” while Williamson, of Arsenal, said it was “another example of the imbalance between expectations of women’s athletes and the support provided to them. Things have to change to help, not hinder them”.

Team-mate Beth Mead said: “Really sad to still be seeing this happening. Fair play to players and all involved at Birmingham for speaking out … We are all behind you.”

Fellow England international and former Birmingham City player Lucy Staniforth was also compelled to share her thoughts. “What BCFC staff & players have done is remarkable given the inadequate support which they have received,” she said. “I’m curious as to how these conditions have been passed as acceptable and would urge those responsible to seriously consider the well-being of the individuals affected.”

Kerys Harrop of Tottenham Hotspur, who spent 20 years at Birmingham, added that the conditions described were part of the reason why she departed last season. “This is heartbreaking, one of the reasons I felt I had to leave the club,” she wrote on Twitter. “Please don’t let the hard work and personal investment that people who care about the club have put into the women’s team go to waste.”

As well as current women’s footballers, shadow sports minister Alison McGovern MP, pundit and former England international Claire Rafferty, Dortmund and former men’s Birmingham player Jude Bellingham and Olympic hockey champion Kate Richardson-Walsh voiced their support online.

“For the longest time female athletes have been coerced into being “grateful” for any scrap,” Richardson-Walsh said.

“Not any more. Female athletes have value and worth and they [sic] speaking out about it and making changes. I bloody love it, long may it continue.”