At present there is a limit on any such B team or reserve teams playing above tier six in the pyramid, but that ceiling could be lifted to tier four initially and any such B teams could be promoted as high as the third tier in the future, or up to two tiers below the league in which their first team competes.
B teams proposal in English women’s lower leagues sparks mixed reaction FA is mulling introducing reserve teams from top two divisions lower down the pyramid but not everyone agrees.
No final decisions would be made at board level until March or April but the proposals also involve expanding the number of teams in each regional division of the lower tiers, such as moving from 12 to 14 teams in each league in tiers three and four.
The prospect of B teams from Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship clubs entering tier four of the pyramid from the summer of 2026 onwards is dividing opinion in the game, as consultations over the idea continue.
It is not yet clear what would happen to a B team’s position in the pyramid if their first team was relegated or what the implications would be for other promotion or relegation places.
