Explained: Why Reading have been forced to withdraw from Women's Championship leaving division with only 11 teams for 2024-25 season

The Royals' female team has been placed in crisis as it has withdrawn from the Championship and will subsequently play in the fifth-tier in 2024/25 instead. The move comes after owner Dai Yongge put the club up for sale, but they claim that, without a "cash injection", they will fail to meet the required criteria to compete in the second-tier.

Reading had been seeking external investment but, per BBC Sport, were unable to secure such funding. As a result, the Championship will have 11 teams and only one will be relegated. In 2023/24, Reading finished 10th, having been relegated from the Women's Super League the season prior.

In a statement, the club said: "The club understand the demotion to Tier 5 will come as a huge disappointment for all connected with the club.

"Unfortunately, given the current economic realities of the Club, the outlay required to reach these levels are just not possible without significant owner funding."

They have also claimed they would not see a return on investing in the women's team for up to five years.

The demotion to the fifth tier places in doubt the livelihood of most players, as their wages will likely prove very difficult to pay. Their future is thus under question.