Sunderland Women's Football Club have failed in their bid to be part of the new Super League.

But chairman Maurice Alderson and manager Mick Mulhern have vowed to fight on and take the Wearsiders back to the top level of the English game.

The Lady Black Cats - who have topped the Women's Premier League for five months this season - were told that their bid to be part of a new eight-team elite summer league fell short on marketing and commercial grounds.

Newcastle United have also failed in their bid, leaving the North East without a team in the new semi-professional set-up, which the FA hopes will help raise the profile of the women's game.

"I was shocked and extremely disappointed when I was given the news," said chairman Alderson. "I was so confident in our bid - I still don't think there can be many better. "It is a real setback. The club has come on so much in a short time. We are bringing through so many exciting players - we had four players in the England U19 team that won the European Championships, and have many other England players at different levels.

"We have been excellent this season and are still top of the table. I think the new league will be weaker without us, but we have to face up to this and stay strong."

There is a chance that some Sunderland players will be picked off by teams that do win a Super League place, but the distances involved for players to travel to play - the nearest Super League teams might end up being in Doncaster or Liverpool - should rule out major changes.

Manager Mick Mulhern certainly wants to keep his vibrant young side together and play their way back to the top by winning a re-formed second-tier National League; although there will be no promotion into the Super League for two years. "I hope that the football club (SAFC), University and Gateshead College will continue to support us and we can move forward as a club. Their support and help with our very professional bid has been superb.

"We will fight on and win whatever league we are put in next year. Very few of our players will have the opportunity to play in Super League due to simple geography, so we are probably in a better position than other top clubs who will miss out.  Yes it's a huge blow but we can always apply again in two years, and we now have the core of the bid in place," added Mulhern, the women's game's Manager of the Year. 

"We have a great young side and I won't let everyone's hard work go to waste. We have been in worse situations than this when we have been relegated and lost players, but each time we have built a team to be proud of. We might lose one or two players and if the chance to play in the Super League comes along for them, then I will wish them well. Every player should want to plat at the highest level possible. But I feel I have now got the strength in depth to fill any gaps and challenge the likes of Millwall, Blackburn, Watford and whoever else remains of the Premier League. 

"We've been top of the National Premier League since October and we should all be very proud of that. I love a challenge and I'm determined that we will play our way back to the top."  

Courtesy of Neil Watson, Sports Editor, Sunderland Echo.