Millie Bright has confirmed that the Lionesses have finally come to an agreement with the Football Association (FA) over bonuses for this summer’s Women’s World Cup.
The players and governing body had been in dispute before the tournament but agreed to suspend negotiations until after it was finished.
The England squad were unhappy that they were not receiving performance-related bonuses, which is what other top nations such as the USA had agreed with their teams.
After further talks this week, the Lionesses and the FA have finally come to an agreement - but they will hold more discussions around other issues, such as commercial activity.
“We have come to an agreement, but I think it is bigger than just the bonus,” said Bright, who will captain England on Friday in their Nations League opener against Scotland.
“We have had a really good conversation with the FA and expressed that we want to be world leaders, both on and off the pitch.
“We had a really positive conversation and I think that conversation was needed.
“The conversations will be ongoing moving forward between the leadership team and the FA, with the support of the PFA, and we are really positive that moving forward things will be different.
“As we know, the women’s game is evolving very quickly and conversations like this need to happen in order to make sure in all areas we are at the top of our game.
“The conversation was extremely positive and as players we feel really confident moving forward about the structure we now have in place.”
Bright has stressed that the current squad’s talks with the FA are about ensuring that structures are in place for those that follow them, with the Lionesses determined that the next generation do not also have to have conversations like these.
“It is more than just finances,” she said. “It is everything to do with the next generation and making sure…I mean to be honest we are extremely lucky and privileged that we have amazing facilities and we already set the tone in many areas.
“I think moving forward our aim, as female footballers, is to make sure these conversations don’t have to happen, and we keep moving the game in a place where it kind of takes care of itself.
“But I think in any work place you do have to have these conversations. It is part and parcel of being in an environment like this.”
