Is a single individual really running a football team like a regime? The former Cheltenham Town Women captain says the side has become a dictatorship that leaves players feeling unsafe.
On Monday Emily Owen confirmed she will leave the Women’s National League Southern Premier side after four years and more than 130 matches.
After the club announced her exit on social media, the defender clarified she departed because of “one person’s lack of principles and clear process failures.”
Cheltenham Town Women declined to discuss specific cases but stressed it treats player welfare and wellbeing with the utmost seriousness.
I think the club’s quiet response only adds fuel to the rumours, and Owen said she wanted to set the record straight amid circulating gossip.
“One particular individual wields excessive power over the squad, turning the environment into a dictatorship where players feel psychologically unsafe,” she asserted.
She added that three teammates quit on moral grounds, saying boundaries that should never be crossed in women’s football were ignored.
A club spokesperson said Cheltenham Town Women are devoted to ensuring every player, staff member and volunteer feels respected, safe, valued and supported in our setting.
We will handle any raised concerns with appropriate sensitivity, following all relevant policies and procedures. Will the club overhaul its governance to restore trust among its squad?