SAINTS Women’s head coach Marieanne Spacey-Cale has credited the club’s directors for making sure there is no “doubt” whatsoever of the importance of her team to the organisation.

Spacey-Cale’s side have an opportunity to post a top-half finish in their debut Championship campaign with just four league matches left of the season.

Although they remained in an unlikely title race before the Christmas break, failing to score in four consecutive games has left them in fifth and at risk of slipping further down.

But their status as a second-division club has long been assured and Spacey-Cale can plan confidently for the next campaign, following promotion from the National League less than 12 months ago.

Their games have been held almost exclusively at St Mary’s this term and the club have continued to push the budget after going full-time to give Spacey-Cale’s charges the best chance of success.

"When you're such a big part of a club that is a Premier League club, there could always be that slight doubt,” Spacey-Cale admitted, speaking to the Daily Echo.  

“I've never had that vibe. I've never had that feeling that there's doubt. All I've ever had is positivity about how important this is.

“And that’s not just how we are on the pitch but how important off the pitch as well to the community, to the people of Southampton and to young girls as role models.

"And with the real boost and the real growth of the women's game at the moment, having those role models on your doorstep is as much a part of the community as your football club.”

During the fans’ forum held at St Mary’s last month, to an audience of managing director Toby Steele, CEO Martin Semmens and club chairman Henrik Kraft, a question was put to the directors regarding the future of the women’s side of the club.

A supporter was hoping to alleviate concerns that the women’s team would suffer if the men’s were relegated from the Premier League, as they were in 2004-05, due to reduced financial benefits of playing in the Championship.

Those in charge moved to reassure supporters that the women’s side of the club will receive the funding they deserve regardless of the men’s success, contrary to what happened last time the club slid down the divisions.

Spacey-Cale said: "I think for that to be asked in the fans forum is really important because it shows that the fans care and the positivity of the message coming back was that the women's programme is really important to us. It shows how much we've integrated.

"We're part of this club and the success of us and the success of the academy teams and the B team and the first team, we all enjoy it and we all want to make sure that we're all pushing to keep the club that with the community feel and get the fans to come week in and week out to support us."