PREMIERSHIP giants Sunderland FC were yesterday accused of poaching a highly-rated women's football team from a North-East college.

Blyth Spartans Kestrels were sponsored by East Durham and Houghall College in its successful promotion campaign last season.

The college - which has the country's only women's football academy, offering two-year courses to would-be professionals - thought the Kestrels would promote their name in the coming season in the women's Premier League.

They had arranged for the team to become East Durham Kestrels if they were successful in reaching the top flight.

But yesterday it accused Sunderland of muscling in and snatching the team away.

Ian Prescott, principal of the college in Peterlee, County Durham, said: "We invested heavily in the Kestrels by providing strips, transport, playing and training facilities.

"We had a written agreement that the club would adopt the East Durham name and we had spent money preparing pitches and changing rooms to Premier League standards.

"There is no doubt that the club would not have gained promotion without our assistance.

"Sadly, the minute they step into the limelight, Sunderland become interested and wave a chequebook."

Sunderland chiefs denied any firm arrangement concerning the Kestrels and insisted discussions were still going on,

A spokeswoman said: "The club has been involved in discussions with the team and East Durham and Houghall College regarding a possible partnership.

"We would be delighted to continue to work closely with the college in future.

"Sunderland FC is fully committed to women's football, having one of only 20 women's centres of excellence in the country, and the only premier league centre of excellence for women in the North-East."

But a letter to college bosses from Sue Smith, chairwoman of the Kestrels, seems to dash the centre's hopes.

She wrote: "It is with great regret that I have to inform you that the club feels that it has no other option but to forge ahead with the link with Sunderland.

"The women's game is developing at such a rate at the moment that we feel it is inevitable for the future success of female clubs that they must be affiliated to a league club.

"The Kestrels acknowledge and are very appreciative of the support given by the college last season.

"However, the committee must put the interests of the club as a whole first, and the extent of the financial support and backing of Sunderland was something that could not be ignored."

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