Cheltenham respond to welfare allegations after former captain Emily Owen leaves

Cheltenham Town Women have said they take player welfare concerns seriously after former captain Emily Owen made allegations about the environment within the team following her departure. BBC Sport reported that the defender accused an unnamed individual of exercising excessive control and said players did not feel psychologically safe. The club declined to comment on individual cases.

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Owen announced on Monday that she was leaving the Women's National League Southern Premier side. Her departure followed four years with Cheltenham, during which she made more than 130 appearances. She subsequently posted a further message after the club shared news of her exit on social media, setting out her own account of why she had decided to leave.

According to the BBC's report, Owen said she wanted to explain her reasons because rumours were circulating about the departure. She attributed her decision to what she described as failures in internal processes and a lack of principles on the part of an individual. Her allegations concerned the conduct and influence of a person she did not identify in the reported statement.

The former captain also alleged that three other players had left on moral grounds. She claimed boundaries had been crossed that should not be crossed in women's football. Those assertions were presented as Owen's account; the club's response did not address the specific circumstances of her departure or the other exits she described.

In its statement, Cheltenham Town Women said it was committed to an environment in which players, staff and volunteers were treated respectfully and felt supported, valued and safe. A spokesperson said any concerns brought to the club would be handled appropriately and sensitively, with the relevant policies and procedures guiding that response.

The club's position therefore combined a refusal to discuss individual cases with a broader assurance about its approach to wellbeing. Owen's public explanation, meanwhile, made clear that her departure was linked to concerns she had about the team environment, following a spell in which she had served as captain and played more than 130 times.