Folding Fylde Women went 'against principles' of AFC Fylde chief David Haythornthwaite

Fylde Women could return after a period 'mothballed' says club owner David Haythornthwaite

The team, based at Mill Farm since 2016, has folded with immediate effect but owner Haythornthwaite (below) hopes the team may return in less troubled times.

He describes Fylde Women as “one of the first casualties” as the club scales down its financial commitments to battle the impact of coronavirus.

Fylde played in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division, the regionalised third tier of the women’s game.

They are believed to be the first team from the professional or semi-professional women’s game in England to fold because of the Covid-19 crisis.

Fylde were ninth in their 12-team competition when the season was abandoned last month and their league declared null and void.

The team, which changed its name from Fylde Ladies to Fylde Women at the start of the season, formed when the Preston North End women’s team moved to Mill Farm and was rebranded four years ago.

In a video interview for the AFC Fylde website, Haythornthwaite stated: “One of the unfortunate decisions we’ve had to take is to discontinue our ladies’ team.

“You might say that’s against your principles. It is against my principles because I always wanted Fylde to be more than just a football club.

“We’ve got a hockey club involved. The ladies’ team was a natural part of that.

“But the problem is, when you come down to saying, ‘Can we live with a ladies’ team or can we live without them?’ the answer is we can live without a ladies’ team.

“It doesn’t mean we’re without a ladies team forever.

“I think it’s more a ‘mothball’ than not having a ladies’ team in the future.

“But just running a ladies’ team, with all the things involved – coaches, kit, transportation, paying players – is probably somewhere around £35,000-£40,000 a year.

“At times like this you have to take those tough decisions, so unfortunately the ladies’ team is a casualty and I apologise to anybody who has been a fan of the ladies’ team.

“Maybe this time next year we’re talking about bringing it back but for the time being that’s one of the first casualties.”