Six members of Thornaby FC's committee members have stepped down following the club's controversial decision to disband their entire women's and girl's football division.
The Teesside-based club voted on Sunday to continue without its women's teams. This included disbanding the U7, U8, U10, U11, U15 and women's team leaving over 100 players without a club. The club said its future was in doubt after a difficult year and progressing "without the women" was the only way to ensure its future.
Six of the eight committee members who voted to withdraw support for the women's teams stepped down on Monday following hefty outrage online.
Lioness and Arsenal forward Beth Mead lead the backlash, posting on social media: "Disgusted to see this decision, the women's game is on the up but we still have committees making these horrible decisions. It's not good enough, these young girls deserve better."
Only two members, Phil Genery and chairman, Garry Morris, remain in position after voting against the decision.
Morris slammed the decision to withdraw support for the women's team in a statement on social media.
"The decision to withdraw support for the women's Team is one that I do not agree with, and along with another member of the committee, voted against it at yesterday's emergency meeting," Morris wrote.
"I have made my feelings known to the board and asked them to reconsider their decision, and also to consider their positions on the board as patrons and trustees of the football club. We are empowered by the fans of the club to make the right decisions for the future of the club, and all those who show their unwavering support to both the male and female teams of all age groups deserve better.
"I firmly believe this decision made yesterday does not do that, and will be making this clear to the remaining members of the board."
They plan to build a new diverse and wide-ranging board alongside representatives from the women's team.