Southampton FC Women: Simon Parker on ‘challenging summer’

Women’s Super League 2 side Southampton have had their budget cut significantly after a “challenging” summer, according to head coach Simon Parker.

As part of the changes, the women’s team will now play the majority of their matches at Eastleigh FC’s Silverlake Stadium, instead of at St Mary’s Stadium where they had spent the previous four seasons.

With the new campaign starting a week on Sunday, Parker told BBC Radio Solent they are now operating with the smallest budget in the WSL 2, and this has had a significant impact on their strategy for 2026-27.

“The summer has been a bit challenging with a few of the things that have happened,” Parker said.

Sources at Southampton deny that these budget cuts are related to the spygate scandal.

Saints’ men were removed from the Championship play-offs last season after the club admitted to spying on rival teams and started this season on minus four points.

In 2025-26, Southampton’s women were in the mix for promotion to the WSL, ultimately finishing fifth, their highest position in the football pyramid since re-forming as a club nine years ago.

“It was a strong first year last season where the aim was always to try and finish in the top half and finishing fifth in a promotion push for a large part of the season was really promising,” Parker added.

“Off the back of last season, the plan was to re-engage with a lot of our key players but we had to pivot and go into a different direction.”

Earlier this summer, it was also revealed director of football Marieanne Spacey-Cale would step down, having been instrumental in the rise of the women’s team at Southampton.