West Ham captain Gilly Flaherty has said she is ‘disappointed’ with the ‘disgusting decision’ made by League One club Gillingham to drop their women’s team.

They are the highest level outfit club to drop their women’s side. While the women’s team will continue to play in the Women’s National league, it will no longer have affiliations with the men’s side. 

Flaherty, who has lived in Kent for over ten years, responded to the club’s statement and tweeted: "What is this?? Statement going on like they actually pumped money in the women’s team.

“Dumped their girls RTC now dumped their women’s side too. @TheGillsFC you should be ashamed”

And she later wrote: "I actually feel so fuming over what @TheGillsFC have done. It’s disgusting and shouldn’t be allowed to happen. 

“It’s time for a club in Kent to really step up and be the game changer for Girls/Women’s football. I want to get involved & help. What can we do?”

A few women’s clubs in Kent replied to Flaherty’s tweet telling her the work they do for women who want to play football. The Women’s Super League player retweeted their responses.

One fan replied to Flaherty hailing the captain for wanting to further the women’s game. 

Flaherty responded: “I was born in South East London but for the past 12/13 years I’ve been Kent based so it means a lot to me. Anyway that I can help I 100% will”

A statement from Gillingham said: “In line with other measures taken, or in the process of being taken due to current circumstances, and in regards to the restructuring of the football club, it is with great regret we have decided to no longer operate our senior ladies football team with immediate effect, and for the foreseeable future.

“I would like to thank the ladies, management and staff for their hard work and efforts over the past few years and wish them well for the future. 

“We understand the team will continue under an independent structure, managed by Mr Josh Oatham, and of course we will follow their progress with interest and wish them continued success.

“The Women's National League have been advised of our decision and have sanctioned the new structure/team, which will retain its current league status.”

Earlier this year, Fifpro the global union for professional footballers, warned that the women’s game would be the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic and advised bosses to protect the clubs.

In May, AFC Fylde reversed their decision to disband their women’s side after announcing the sad news in April.

Gillingham’s men’s side will remain in League One after it was decided the league would be cancelled and final placings were decided on a points-per-game system.

Gillingham finished in tenth position having won 12 of the 35 games they played.