SAINTS have been handed a major boost in their pursuit to reach the Women's Super League with an expanded division announced.

The top flight of women's football in England, the WSL, will expand from its current 12 teams to 14 as of the start of the 2026/27 season.

It means three Championship sides will be promoted at the end of the upcoming 2025/26 campaign, with Saints vying to be in that number.

Previously, only the champions of the second tier have been promoted to WSL, with just one team being relegated from the top division. 

The Championship will be renamed WSL2, with two of its clubs two winning promotion to WSL automatically and one more via a play-off in 2025/26.

In future, the 14th team in the WSL would be automatically relegated and there will be an automatic promotion spot for the WSL2 champions.

In addition, there will be the introduction of a promotion/relegation playoff between the 13th placed WSL team and the 2nd placed WSL2 team.

WSL2 will continue as a 12-team league with additional promotion opportunities from the National League divisions at the end of this next season.

CEO of WSL, Nikki Doucet said: “Over the past few months, WSL Football has led a thorough and robust, consultative process backed by research and analysis which explored multiple options that could drive the game forward and help it reach its potential.

"Our priority was to find a route that would benefit the whole women’s game pyramid, and we believe this next evolution of women’s professional football will raise minimum standards, create distinction and incentivise investment across the board.

"Subject to the approval from The FA Board, expanding the WSL to 14 teams will stimulate movement between leagues and through the pyramid which increases opportunities.

"The introduction of a promotion/relegation playoff creates distinction for the women’s game and introduces a high-profile, high stakes match.”

Saints finished eighth of 11 teams in the Championship last season, following a disappointing campaign under former boss Remi Allen.

Director of football Marianne Spacey-Cale is set to appoint a new head coach, with the target of finishing in the top three spots in the table.