The election has stalled the regulator’s progress, but is perhaps a chance for women’s football to be given proper consideration

The general election has put the government’s legislation for an independent football regulator on hold. With both the Conservatives and Labour supporting the proposal, it should return to parliament regardless of who wins. This delay provides an ideal opportunity for a rethink. To date, the women’s game hasn’t been properly considered in the discussions and deliberations.

Let’s start with the IFR’s name. It’s actually the independent men’s football regulator as the women’s game hasn’t been included. Language is important and this plays to an outdated narrative that the women’s game doesn’t count.

Replacing the US-bound Emma Hayes is a huge ask, but the new manager has the necessary experience and credentials

Emma Hayes has not left alone for the United States. Joining the former Chelsea manager in the US women’s national team set-up are her assistant coach Denise Reddy, goalkeeper coach Stuart Searle, head of performance Bart Caubergh, performance analyst Ferdia O’Hanrahan and opposition scout Cameron Meighan. Camille Abily and Théo Rivrin are joining Sonia Bompastor to resume their assistant manager and assistant coach roles with the former Lyon manager, but Bompastor has a big job ahead in replacing so many highly regarded staff, in particular Searle. Fortunately for Bompastor, the general manager, Paul Green, who was Hayes’s right-hand man, remains in post and has been leading that process and helping to ensure a smooth introduction to life at the club.

• True usage figures ‘likely’ to be even higher, report states
• Players surveyed from Premier League, EFL and WSL

About one in five male and female professional players who took part in a new survey are using snus, nicotine pouches or both. The study by ­Loughborough University, ­commissioned by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), also identified that two out of five had tried the pouches at least once.

The report states the true usage figures are likely to be higher owing to players not wanting to disclose use, even in an anonymous survey. Of the 628 male players surveyed, at Premier League or EFL clubs, 18% said they used it, while 22% of the 51 Women’s Super League players ­surveyed said they were users.

Defender who led Lionesses at three tournaments is now doing a coaching course and raising money for MND research

“That would have been the dream – to kind of mic drop and leave by winning a trophy with England,” says Steph Houghton as she reflects on a 22-year career during which she played for Sunderland, Leeds Carnegie, Arsenal and Manchester City and won three Women’s Super League titles, alongside captaining the Lionesses at three major tournaments. “But I wouldn’t change any of that because I think that has made me the person that I am today.”

The highs live long in the memory. Houghton, who retired at the end of the season having announced her decision in March, played a significant role in drawing the kind of attention that laid foundations for a boom in the women’s game. Since rounding Andréia Suntaque to open the scoring against a Marta-led Brazil for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics, the 36-year-old has led the way in advocating professional standards. She was also one of the first female players given a central contract by the Football Association, in 2009, when many of the Lionesses were part-time.

• Some 90% of fans surveyed agree with a regular kick-off time
• Carney review advises exemption from Saturday 3pm blackout

There is a huge clamour for a dedicated TV slot for women’s football, according to a survey of thousands of fans carried out by the Football Supporters’ Association.

Backing the recommendation made in the 2023 review of women’s football, led by Karen Carney, 90.7% of fans surveyed by the FSA believe that the Premier League, English Football League and broadcasters should come together to create a specific, set time for the showing of such matches.

Faye Carruthers and Suzanne Wrack are joined by Marva Kreel and Rachel Brown-Finnis to discuss how Chelsea pipped Manchester City to the title after their rout of Manchester United

In today’s episode, the panel pay a fond farewell to the 2023-24 season as Emma Hayes’ Chelsea side secure another WSL trophy on her final game in charge of the club. Faye Carruthers and Suzy Wrack are joined by guests Marva Kreel and Rachel Brown-Finnis to discuss Chelea’s rout of Manchester United at Old Trafford, along with Manchester City’s anti-climactic victory over Aston Villa.

The panel also discuss Vivienne Miedema and Fran Kirby’s fairytale endings, hand out some of their end-of-season awards as well as waxing lyrical about the Lionesses’ under-17s side.

To sign up for our bi-weekly women’s football newsletter – all you need to do is search ‘Moving the Goalposts sign up’ or follow that link.Here’s an extract from the latest edition.

Once again Chelsea won the league and once again on the final day of the season. That is no accident

There comes a time when you’ve written about the same scenario so many times that you begin to think that, eventually, you will run out of words. Chelsea’s stunning fifth consecutive league title – delivered in some style, via a 6-0 humiliation of Manchester United at Old Trafford to ensure they finished level with Manchester City but with a superior goal difference – is, strangely, not one of those times.

Yes, it is Chelsea’s eighth title of the past 10 (if you include the mini Spring Series of 2017) and the fourth year running that the title has been decided on the final day, but there is still so much to say.

The best players, most thrilling games and finest signings – plus the biggest flops and greatest gripes of the eventful season

It has to be Khadija Shaw. Bunny’s output speaks for itself with 21 goals in 18 games, including a run of three hat-tricks in four games at the turn of the year. For a moment it seemed as though Lauren James would match Shaw’s goal tally but the Manchester City striker’s commanding presence has set her apart from anyone else in the WSL this season. Xaymaca Awoyungbo

• Exhausted Chelsea manager signs off with fifth successive title
• ‘I felt we deserved title,’ says Manchester City’s Gareth Taylor

Emma Hayes said she doesn’t “have another drop to give” after bowing out as Chelsea manager with a fifth Women’s Super League title in a row, while Manchester City’s Gareth Taylor felt his team would have deserved to be champions.

Hayes spoke passionately and emotionally after her side won the league on goal difference with a 6-0 win at Manchester United, her final game before she leaves to take over the US women’s national team in time for the Olympics. “I’d say it’s taken its toll, rather than changed me,” she said of her 12 years at the club. “I categorically cannot carry on. So, I am absolutely leaving at the right time. I don’t have another drop to give it.”

The screams of delight from the departing Emma Hayes in her technical area, the roar and chest-thumping of the injured Sam Kerr sat high above the dugout, and the chaotic flailing arms from the jubilant corner of fans in blue. Chelsea are Women’s Super League champions for a fifth time in a row having thrashed the FA Cup winners Manchester United 6-0 at Old Trafford.

Those scenes came within 10 minutes. That’s all it took. In the end it was all a little anticlimactic, Chelsea’s two goals inside those eight minutes enough to give them an almost insurmountable four-goal advantage on goal difference over Manchester City. By half-time, despite City leading 1-0 at Aston Villa, Chelsea had doubled their tally and extended their advantage, going in four up – Sjoeke Nüsken and the utterly unplayable Mayra Ramírez adding to the latter’s opener and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s goal. Melanie Leupolz added a fifth after the break as they ran up the numbers and there was an emotional sixth from the departing record goalscorer Fran Kirby, but it wasn’t needed, with City only limping to a 2-1 win.

• Updates from 3pm BST kick-off at Old Trafford
• Aston Villa v Manchester City: WSL – live
• Live scoreboard | And feel free to email Sarah

Another notable miss for United is Leah Galton. She came off injured in the Women’s FA Cup final last Sunday.

Manchester United team news is here. Rachel Williams starts ahead of Nikita Parris and Melvine Malard also starts.

• Updates from 3pm BST kick-off at Villa Park
• Manchester United v Chelsea: WSL – live
• Live Scoreboard | And feel free to mail Emillia

Chelsea face Manchester United at Old Trafford in another huge match this afternoon, also kicking off at 3pm BST. Sarah Rendell is keeping tabs on that one in our other WSL live blog.

Chelsea’s WSL season in numbers:

Games played - 21

Wins - 17

Draws - 1

Defeats - 3

Goals scored - 65

Goals conceded - 18

Days at the top of the table - 153

Manager determined to depart on a high while Manchester City aim to spoil leaving party on what could be a dramatic final day

Emma Hayes is not having to work hard to keep emotions in check as she prepares for her final game as Chelsea manager – Saturday’s mouthwatering match-up with Manchester United at Old Trafford – because she is used to doing it.

The last drive into work, the last coaching session, the final away trip with the team, watching her family mourn the end of her working relationship with Chelsea as much as she does – there is time to take in the poignancy of these moments properly later.