Manchester United to learn fate on bid to join Women's Championship next season

Manchester United could discover on Sunday whether their bid to join the second tier of women's football has been successful.

United are launching a women's team for the first time since scrapping their squad in 2005, and they have applied for a place in the newly-branded FA Women's Championship, currently known as Women's Super League 2.

The restructure is set to be finalised after the play-off final between Charlton and Blackburn at Bramall Lane, with the winning team set to claim a place in the Championship if they meet eligibility requirements.

United are one of 15 teams to have applied for one of nine places in the revamped format, which will feature a maximum 14-team FA Women's Super League and a 12-team Championship.

WSL1 champions Chelsea, Arsenal, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol City, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Reading and Yeovil have already been granted tier one licences.

Up to four more teams could be added to that list, with West Ham understood to be among the applicants.

Aston Villa, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Durham, London Bees, Millwall Lionesses, Sheffield FC Ladies and Tottenham have all been given tier two licences.

United, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United are among those to have applied to join that level of women's football.

Credit: Skysports.com