Sheffield Ladies withdraw from Championship following financial struggles

Sheffield Ladies have withdrawn from the FA Women's Championship following financial issues at the club.

The South Yorkshire side won the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division in 2014–15 and were the first team to gain promotion to the Championship.

Sheffield released a statement on Sunday to explain the reasons behind their retraction from the second division of women's football.

"Following a meeting of the directors, the club has taken the very difficult decision to withdraw from the FA Women's Championship," the statement read.

"The financial commitments necessary to compete at this level are proving now too onerous. Sheffield FC has been a pioneer of women's football in Sheffield over the past 15 years, and has competed with honour, pride and considerable success against clubs with much greater resources.

"Sheffield FC will continue to participate in girls' and women's football. The structure of the women's game at elite level is moving towards a full-time operation which is now no longer consistent with where Sheffield FC is positioned as a club."

Sheffield Ladies, who were founded in 2003, finished fifth in the Championship last season.