West Ham Women fans are concerned for the new Women’s Super League season after the club lost seven first-team players over the summer.
Last year’s campaign featured only three wins and 20 goals, the joint-worst attack, as they finished one place and nine points above relegation in 11th place.
Key players leaving for free is another huge blow, including club captain Mackenzie Arnold and vice-captain Hawa Cissoko.
Risa Shimizi, Honoka Hayashi, Emma Snerle, Abbey-Leigh Stringer, and Mel Filis have also departed, following a combined 110 appearances last season.
Jo Bailey, chair of Pride of Irons Supporters Club and co-chair of the Supporters Board, said: “‘Super Mac’ Arnold was a fan-favourite, with four years service to the badge.
“Cissoko felt like a real hammer, and we’ll miss her passion, grit, and determination.”
Season-ticket holder Gerrard said: “Cissoko’s energy and commitment will be missed on and off the pitch.”
Fellow season-ticket holder Zahra added: “She had such a positive and authentic energy.”
Saturday’s 3-0 opening day defeat to Manchester United did little to reduce apprehension, and fans have blamed short-term contracts for limiting the club’s progression.
Bailey said: “It’s a real problem throughout the leagues as it’s so hard to have a long term vision.”
Zahra added: “They have created an unstable and transient squad.”
WSL clubs, especially lower down the league, can’t afford regular transfer fees or failing players on long contracts, so often hand out one or two year deals.
This leaves them vulnerable to losing players, as players who perform well are snapped up, while underperforming players aren’t re-signed.
West Ham Women’s academy may need some improvement, as homegrown players are a financial saviour for many teams.
Zahra said: “We were the only WSL club to not receive an FA Professional Game Academy license, which is very disappointing.”
West Ham have looked abroad for players, with only one of their nine new signings having any WSL experience.
Bailey said: “It’s the only way we can afford to get world class players, but they enrich our league.”
It’s not all doom and gloom for the Hammers however, who beat Arsenal for the first time last season.
Bailey was excited at the announcement of Shalina Zadorsky and Katrina Gorry as new skippers.
Zahra added: “They are both natural motivators and leaders.”
Looking ahead to the season, the fans had mixed emotions surrounding the new season.
Bailey and Gerrard both mentioned their confidence in staying in the WSL but that also exemplifies the low ambitions, with last season’s struggles still in the forefront of some people’s minds.
Hurley stated: “I’m not confident for this season, based on our dismal performance last year.”
Only time will tell if the new signings are able to adjust to their new league, and West Ham will be hopeful the one relegation place is taken up by newly promoted Crystal Palace.
If they want to progress up the league, they will need to change their financial practices, and the longer contracts given to new players should help.
West Ham face Liverpool on Sunday at 3pm.
Featured image credit: James Boyes via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY 2.0 licence
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