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Could Aston Villa be happy with one season being voided, but face heartbreak in another?
Words: Regan Foy | @findfoy
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As news trickled out of British media last night stating that the Premier League could be voided this season due to the ongoing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 Coronavirus, fans were excited to note that this could mean Aston Villa remain in the Premier League despite currently sitting in the relegation zone – with The Telegraph reporting that Liverpool could be awarded the title and the option of a 22-side league next season is certainly on the table.
But if Liverpool aren’t awarded their much-deserved league title, then surely the precedent would be followed across every league under the FA’s jurisdiction, including the FA Women’s Championship, where Aston Villa Women currently sit as league leaders.
The side, which has received much investment over the last year – with this month in 2019 seeing Jodie Hutton receive a professional contract, which many see as the starting point for the exponential growth of Gemma Davies’ side – are still unbeaten in the league, but are only six points away from dropping into second place and out of the promotion spot.
Moving into the Women’s Super League would provide Aston Villa Women with a monetary boost, as well as allowing Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris to invest further into the side as they look to reign over the Midland’s and potentially British Women’s Football in the future.
In the case of Liverpool, their distance in the Premier League is at such a level that it would be considered unfair to not award them their title – but in the FA Women’s Championship – there would surely be arguments from Sheffield United Women and Durham Women stating that they could still quite easily pip Aston Villa Women to the title.
The Aston Villa Women are enjoying their best season to date having reached a Continental Cup Quarter-Final for the first time in the club’s history, as well as potentially being only a handful of games away from being crowned the Champions of the FA Women’s Championship – as well their closeness to being the first-ever side to register an unbeaten season in the league since it’s inception.
Would the League being cancelled void this terrific feat? Would they get promoted, or have to play the season again?
There are many questions that will go unanswered for some time – and possibly longer than the men’s game in this case – but it is easy to disregard what could happen with the fanfare around Aston Villa’s men’s side potentially staying in the upper echelons of the footballing league.
Spare a thought for the Women’s side, regardless of what the potential end to the season may look like – as it’s bound to be weighing on the players and staff as it stands.
Health, of course, is the most important thing, but being so close and yet so far can certainly affect the players mentally.
