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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Exclusive by Tom Garry

Sheffield United get reprieve to stay in WSL 2 after Blackburn withdrawal

Sheffield United players prepare before the game against Southampton in April.
Sheffield United finished bottom of WSL 2. Photograph: George Wood/The FA/Getty Images

Sheffield United have been given a reprieve from relegation and will remain in the second tier, WSL 2, next season. The decision, confirmed by the Football Association, follows Blackburn’s decision to ­withdraw from the division for financial reasons.

Sheffield United finished bottom last season but have met all the requirements for a WSL 2 licence. Burnley, a third-tier club, also applied to fill the vacancy left by Blackburn after pledging to move to full-time status. It means there will be 12 teams in WSL 2 next term, avoiding a repeat of the 2024-25 campaign when 11 teams participated after the withdrawal of Reading last June.

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