Forest Green Rovers have disbanded their women’s team for the 2026-27 season, a decision the club says is necessary to “concentrate their resources” on returning the men’s side to the English Football League. The Gloucestershire club’s women’s side finished second in their regional division of the fifth tier last term, losing only one league match all season and missing promotion to the fourth tier by a single point behind champions Torquay. The move comes despite the Football Association having confirmed the women’s team’s allocation into tier five of the pyramid for the upcoming season less than four weeks ago.
The men’s team, managed by former Wales and Leicester midfielder Robbie Savage, was relegated to the National League in 2024 and finished seventh last season, losing to Boreham Wood in the playoffs. In the previous campaign, under Steve Cotterill, they finished third but lost in the play-off semi-finals. Forest Green’s stated priority is a rapid return to League Two, a goal the club’s chairman, Dale Vince, has previously acknowledged demands significant financial focus.
Financial pressures and the Hartpury partnership breakdown
In a statement titled “Forest Green Rovers will not have a women’s team for the 2026-27 season”, a club spokesman said discussions with Hartpury University about a joint women’s team had fallen through after the university made a decision that ruled out the possibility. That also means Forest Green are stepping back from their involvement with Hartpury’s elite training centre for girls aged nine to 16. The club described the partnership as “worthwhile and valued” and said they would continue to support Hartpury as they explore ways to take the programme forward through Hartpury Women FC.
Forest Green’s financial position helps explain the decision. The club reported an operational loss of £3,269,365 for the financial year ending June 2024 – up from £1,362,432 the previous year – and a total loss after tax of £3,626,404. Administrative expenses rose to £3,956,335, attributed to general cost increases across the UK economy. Turnover for that period stood at £7,935,177. Chairman Dale Vince acknowledged the losses, saying there were “no surprises here”, and emphasised the strength of the club behind the scenes, backed by owners and loyal fans.
The club’s Academy had already undergone restructuring in April 2026, with Forest Green stating that operating costs exceeding £1 million per year were unsustainable for a club of its size. That restructuring, which discontinued programmes for players aged nine to 14 while retaining U15, U16 and U18 squads, was also linked to reduced Premier League funding in the second year after relegation from the Football League.
Forest Green insisted women’s football would eventually return. “This isn’t goodbye to women’s football at Forest Green,” the spokesman said. “We’d like to return to it in the future, when the time is right and when we can build a programme that is sustainable and successful for the long term.” The club thanked players, staff, volunteers and supporters who had been part of the women’s programme.
Strong history and fan backlash
The women’s team had a strong recent record, having won three league titles in their history and previously played in the third tier of women’s football. They also have five Gloucestershire County Cup wins. The decision has attracted significant criticism, with fans on social media describing it as “horrendous”, “shameful” and “disgusting”. FGR defender Sophia McGrath expressed shock and disappointment, while Torquay United club captain Danni Wyatt called it “a shameful step backwards”. Dursley Town Ladies described the move as “very sad”.
Critics have also questioned the decision in light of Forest Green’s reputation as a progressive club – recognised by FIFA as the world’s most sustainable football team and the first carbon-neutral football club – and its association with initiatives such as “Her Game Too”, which promotes inclusivity in football. The club’s environmental credentials include renewable energy, organic pitches, electric vehicle charging points, vegan food, compostable packaging and efforts to cut emissions from travel.
Hartpury University, meanwhile, has its own women’s football programme: Hartpury Women’s FC earned promotion to the South West Regional Women’s Football League Division One (tier six) in their inaugural season, 2025-26. Forest Green said they would continue to support Hartpury as they develop that side. For Forest Green, the immediate future is squarely focused on the men’s promotion push – a gamble the club has framed as a necessary concentration of resources in pursuit of a return to the EFL.
