Man City is "busy parking their tanks on the lawns of the women's game," according to Louise Taylor of the London GUARDIAN. All the indications are that once Man City Ladies enter England's revamped Women's Super League at the start of the new season in April, Arsenal's "era of dominance could be curtailed." Man City has already "signed a quartet of leading England internationals" in Steph Houghton, Jill Scott, Karen Bardsley and Toni Duggan. However, such an impressive commitment to the women's game at the Etihad Stadium "comes in stark contrast to a general lack of interest at Old Trafford." ManU has been without a ladies' team since '05 and, increasingly aware of this void, 3,900 fans petitioned ManU Manager David Moyes in September urging him to put "pressure on the powers that be to reinstate it." Man City, meanwhile, has "required no such spur to announce their arrival in the big time." It will be entering the top division for the first time at a juncture when the WSL is expanding into two tiers of eight and 10 teams. Although largely semi-professional, teams "are allowed four full-time professionals" earning in excess of £20,000 ($32,000) per year. Significantly the message has "clearly been relayed from Abu Dhabi that the women must be offered every support by senior club officials." Man City Football Services Managing Dir Brian Marwood suggested that it is "all part of a wider mission." Marwood: "Manchester City is committed to the development of football in every community, and to sharing its football resources and coaching capabilities across a wide range of ages and abilities. City Ladies' entry in to the WSL is real evidence of this" (GUARDIAN, 12/10).
