Reading's demotion 'devastating' - NI's Burns

Jackie Burns joined Reading in August 2022 when they were in the Women's Super League

Goalkeeper Jackie Burns says that Reading's demotion from the Women's Championship to the fifth tier is "devastating".

The club withdrew from the Championship on Sunday after a number of financial difficulties over the past 12 months.

The squad were moved from full-time to part-time after being relegated from the Women's Super League in 2023.

The team avoided back-to-back relegations but player were "left in the unknown" after the season ended.

Owner Dai Yongge has put Reading up for sale, but the club have said they could not meet the criteria to play in the Championship without a "cash injection".

The decision to drop down to the fifth tier came amid fears the women's team could be scrapped altogether.

"It hurts so hard because you tried so hard to fight for something, but it turned out to be a battle that was never going to be won," Burns told BBC Sport NI.

Northern Ireland goalkeeper Burns, 27, was one of 16 players released by Reading on Tuesday, along with international team-mate Lauren Wade.

Burns, who made 16 appearances for the club across two seasons, said the women's team "had to build from scratch" after a number of cuts following he club's relegation from the WSL.

While it was made public the team would move to a part-time model ahead of the Championship season, Burns says "it felt like a full-time job".

"It was a new team, essentially, with new staff as well," she added.

"It was a challenging season. It was long hours, so we kept saying it felt like a full-time job on a part-time wage."

However, Burns says the players did not complain because they were just happy to be playing football and they had "extra drive" to avoid relegation despite the difficulties off the pitch.

"We wanted to stay up for the sake of the club, the sake of ourselves and our careers," she said.

"We battled to the end and done what we needed to do to stay in the Championship.

"We were left with the unknown after the season and then a week ago we were told the club's funding is next to nothing for the women's team and we weren't in their plans."

'Is the women's team a tick box?'

The 2024-25 Championship will take place with 11 teams following Reading's withdrawal

Prior to their relegation from the WSL, Reading were an established top-flight club.

Burns adds it has been a "whirlwind and spiral down" as the club has been left with "next to nothing".

The men's team have also been in trouble and Burns says "it comes down to ownership".

"It was hard for us as players to see a club that could have been something, and has been something for years, to be in this situation," she added.

"Reading have struggled for a couple of years, especially in the men's game. In the same year we got relegated from the WSL they got relegated from the Championship.

"The women's team is paying for the club as a whole".

Burns joined Reading after Euro 2022, which was won by England on home soil.

While there was a burst in popularity in women's football following the Lionesses' win, Burns feels that Reading "went stagnant or in the completely opposite direction".

"You had a belief this was the start of a positive impact," Burns said about the impact of Euro 2022.

"But at some points you just think, 'is it a tick box for some teams to have a women's team?'. Yes, it shows growth to a certain extent, but it's how you invest in them."

"Everyone loves seeing the positive impact on the typical teams like Chelsea, Arsenal or Man City. They are doing great but maybe everyone else around them are struggling.

"They are the ones, at the end of the day, who will need more investment so they can do better in these circumstances."

While many players were released, a number of the squad remain under contract, including Northern Ireland defender Rachel Dugdale, and their futures are currently unclear.

Burns admits "I don't know the answer" as to where she will end up for the upcoming season.

"The longer it goes on the more you overthink and it becomes a bit more stressful," she said.

"Reality sort of hits. Deadlines are coming up. I think the Championship pre-season starts very soon, in the next week or two.

"I would guess that WSL clubs are trying to finalise their teams, so it makes it a lot more stressful not knowing what the outcome is for your future."