Former Cheltenham Town Women captain Emily Owen has accused “an individual” of turning the club into “a dictatorship where players feel psychologically unsafe”, after announcing her departure from the Women’s National League Southern Premier side this week.
Cheltenham Town Women (Credits: BBC Sport)
Emily Owen’s Cheltenham dictatorship claims
Owen, who made more than 130 appearances across four years at the club, had initially announced her exit on Monday. But after the club shared the news on social media, the defender posted her own message to “set the record straight,” saying she left due to “a lack of an individual’s principles and outright failures in processes.”
“One individual in particular has far too much control within this team, turning the environment into a dictatorship where players feel psychologically unsafe,” Owen said. She also claimed three other players had left the club “on moral grounds” as boundaries were crossed “that shouldn’t be crossed in women’s football.”
Cheltenham Town Women respond
Cheltenham Town Women said it would not comment on individual cases, but stressed it takes all matters relating to the welfare and wellbeing of its players “extremely seriously.” A spokesperson added the club is committed to ensuring every player, staff member and volunteer is “treated with respect and feels safe, valued and supported” and that concerns are handled “appropriately, sensitively and in line with all relevant policies and procedures.”
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
