Ray Trew Bankrolls Lincoln Bid

OOH Lincoln Ladies F.C. are set to unveil their Super League Bid today to join the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Doncaster Belles, Leeds, Everton and Birmingham.


The LadyImps are set to put in a substantial bid to become a founder member of the new semi-professional FA summer Super League, due to kick off in March 2011. Eight franchises from around England will be chosen to play in the new top-flight league, which will run from March to October, with a six week mid-summer break to allow for the Women's World Cup in 2011 and the London Olympics in 2012.


The FA have pledged up to £70,000 financial support to each participating team to support club development activities in specific areas, and clubs will have a salary cap imposed to avoid some of the financial problems incurred within the men's game - each club can register a maximum of 20 players. OOH Lincoln's bid must be delivered to the FA's offices at Wembley Stadium by the end of business on Friday December 18th (the bid goes to the binders on Dec 11th), with successful bids due to be announced in March 2010.



Glen Harris, ex-Lady Imps manager and OOH Lincoln's spokesman for the bid said: 'Our bid will include a business plan incorporating accounts and financial forecasts, business development and marketing plans, plus club and player development plans.
'Should our bid be successful, OOH Lincoln Ladies will play at both Sincil Bank and Ashby Avenue. Ray Trew, the club's main sponsor and backer of Lincoln's Super League bid, will provide office space for administration, and the Manager's office will be at Christ's Hospital School, which is OOH Lincoln's training ground' he said.



OOH Lincoln's manager Rod Wilson believes the whole of the City of Lincoln will get behind his side's bid to join the new women's elite summer Super League. 'If selection to the Summer League is about financial sustainability, investment in youth, professionalism - both on the sideline and off the pitch - and supporter interest, then we have it all,' said Wilson. 'Our bid leader, Fiona Green, has worked in the men's game on a consultancy basis for Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan, as well as working for UEFA and FIFA for over 14 years, so I know the bid will be presented in the best possible way, we're very luck to have her! And of course we have had some of the best, most qualified people working on and off the pitch with us for a very long time.

'But there's another big factor in all this - we have such loyal support in numbers in Lincoln, in fact it may be that we have the largest core support in the country. I think no other team in the country deserves to get this as much as we do, and I believe the whole of the City of Lincoln will be keeping their fingers, and toes, crossed for us to be successful, and bring this fantastic prize back to the City' he said.


Gillian Merron, Member of Parliament for Lincoln, has voiced her support for OOH Lincoln: 'I am delighted to be backing OOH Lincoln Ladies bid for a place in the new FA Super League,' she said. 'Lincoln Ladies are an asset to our city - not only are they a great football team, their achievements in the community - coaching and mentoring young players - are second to none. I am proud to support them both in the work they do locally and in their application for involvement in the Super League.'

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