Burnley chairman Alan Pace's revolutionary bid to boost women's football at Turf Moor!

The Managing Partner of ALK Capital pledged his full support following the announcement that the operation would be integrated into the football club with immediate effect.

As a result the day-to-day running of Burnley FC Women - and the wider youth setup - will move away from Burnley FC in the Community and become its own entity.

Major investment, including the creation of a Women’s Academy, is planned to help move the women’s team to the next level, following unprecedented back-to-back promotions into the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division.

The ultimate aim is to facilitate the club’s drive towards the FA Women’s Championship, the second tier in the pyramid, which they hope to achieve within four years.

“Burnley FC is an inclusive club for all and this announcement signals our intent to put women’s football at the very heart of it,” said Pace.

”Over the coming seasons we will fully support and invest in our new women’s football strategy, with the ambition to gain promotion to the FA Women’s Championship within four years and ultimately become a full-time professional outfit.”

The team will then, in future, share the club’s Barnfield Training Centre facilities with their male counterparts while new partners will be sought on an international scale, with the hope of improving every level of Burnley FC Women and its wider operations

Plans for a Women’s Academy seek to provide a professional environment for young female players and establish Burnley as a hotbed for future talent in the women’s game.

Pace added: “The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup was arguably a turning point for the women’s game, attracting new fans and inspiring men and women all over the world to see football in a new light.

“The global pandemic has since had a huge impact on women’s football, but I believe it has a major role to play in the sport’s future growth, bringing in new audiences and demographics.

”We feel very strongly about it, from the women’s team all the way down to girls’ football, we want to see a whole programme that is embracing of everyone.

”It needs a little bit of investment, and I can guarantee it will get some. The women’s team is very important to us.”

Neil Hart, CEO of Burnley FC said: “I would like to personally thank Burnley FC in the Community for all their hard work.

“I see this as a huge opportunity to move BFC Women forward and we will be supporting women’s manager Matt Bee and the players to do this.”

Matt Bee, manager of Burnley FC Women, said: “This announcement is exciting for all aspirational young footballers in Burnley.

“The club is demonstrating real ambition within the women’s game and is committed to investing in infrastructure and development over the coming seasons.

“This is an exciting time for Burnley FC Women, and I can’t wait to work closely with Alan Pace, the ALK Capital team and Neil Hart to build on the fantastic success we’ve had in recent seasons when football can fully resume.”