THE decision to withdraw Dunfermline Athletic Ladies from senior football was "difficult" but one that "felt right", according to the side's chairman.

Alan Martin, who paid tribute to the coaches and players for being in a position to kick-off the 2021/22 season, said that the impact of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had been a significant factor in pulling out of the Scottish Women's Football (SWF) Championship North.

Last month, on October 19, the Pars – who had played five matches in their division – released a statement saying that it was "with regret" that they would be withdrawing from the league, with their results being declared null and void.

The club will continue to offer football through it's vibrant youth sections but Martin, who took the role of chair in January 2019, admitted that a struggle for numbers to fulfil fixtures had driven their decision.

Speaking to Press Sport, he explained: "When I took up the role of chair in January 19, we had two senior ladies' teams and things were looking really positive. Certainly, even the first three or four games we managed that season before COVID hit, the team was flying.

"COVID came along and during the course of the few months, some players moved away, one was stuck in Australia and, when we did get round to coming back to the pitch, a number of players just dropped out of the game.

"I guess things happen and life comes along. That was at the point where we managed to morph the squads into one. We had another couple of players step back because they were setting up their own business, and they have since gone back into football but at a lower level.

"Murdo (Steven, previous head coach) moved on because his wife was having another baby, and he was still trying to keep his business going, which is a football academy in Edinburgh. Doing it by himself, he was becoming exhausted.

"At that point, we managed to get Davie (Saunders, head coach) in, and he brought in a couple of coaches in as well. They pulled a blinder in getting us to the starting line for the season.

"Our first game was a close defeat, 4-2 up in Dundee, and then we had a good cup win against Stenhousemuir, but it's been heavy going on the pitch in terms of performances. Then we came up against a few problems, like away games.

"I think we had five or six players who work shifts, and when they've got their work commitments, they can't travel to Buchan, or travel to play Grampian or Dundee to play Westdyke.

"All of a sudden, you find you're running really close to the bone to getting a viable playing squad even for individual matches. When you're hit by injuries, that just becomes the final nail in the coffin. Unfortunately, our under-17s team is a very young team, so there's very few in there that can come through and play for the ladies.

"It was just a numbers game, unfortunately. We didn't have the numbers to sustain a competitive squad through a full season and so, despite the best efforts of the coaching staff, who did a fantastic job, we just realised that we were at the point where we had to hold our hands up and say that we tried, and it was time to lay it to rest and give the players a chance to find somewhere else to play their football."

Aileen Campbell, CEO of SWF, said the organisation would continue to offer its support to the club, which isn't alone in facing such a decision, with Strathspey, in September, and SWPL 1 side Forfar Farmington, in August, also having withdrawn from the league set-up.

Martin continued: "I've real respect for her (Ms Campbell).

"Within five minutes of me sending that email to SWF, Aileen Campbell was on the phone to me asking what, if anything, she could do. We talked for 20-25 minutes about the women's game in general, which was fantastic. Massive credit to her for taking the time to do that; that was really appreciated.

"There's a few challenges for the ladies' game that, yes, impact on the men's game, but with the ladies' game being that less mature, some of the impacts are felt more keenly.

"I'm just massively proud of the work the players and coaches put in to keep it going as long as they did but, ultimately, it wasn't to be. Given you're drawing on the good energies of volunteers, there's a time to put your hands up and say it's not working.

"It was a decision made with the head coach; it wasn't by any means a dictatorship. Having made the decision, it felt right.

"In my first few weeks as chair, I saw potential there for us to be in SWPL 2, the level above. It did feel like a bit of a tumble from the dream if you like to be then faced with going from two senior squads, hoping one of them could reach the upper echelons of the women's game, to then having one, to then having none.

"It escalated quite quickly but there's still plenty to do and plenty of positives for the future."

In a statement released by SWF, Ms Campbell said: "SWF knows how difficult this decision was for all those involved at Dunfermline Athletic – volunteers who have poured their heart and soul into the club. We understand the challenges the club have faced and will continue to offer support during this difficult period.

"Dunfermline Athletic have made it clear that while they can no longer sustain their senior team, they will now focus on their youth pathway. I have no doubt that given the positive impact they have within the area, that they will continue to provide opportunities for girls within football and will return to the women’s game in the future."