Doncaster Belles battle to save soul of women's football The Belles seem to be a financially prudent club, who balance the books. They do not have a sugar daddy and they pay their players accordingly, mostly on a match-fee basis plus bonus. They have a young side, with many students, and act as a feeder club to others, who go on to benefit from their breeding ground. They share a ground with Doncaster Rovers, Doncaster rugby league team and Doncaster Athletics Club. When Doncaster Rovers reseed the pitch in the summer, the Belles have to reschedule their matches. It is not ideal, but it is sustainable. And although their fortunes have slipped since their six FA Cup-winning glory days, they have never finished last in all their years of top-flight football. To replace them with Manchester City asks serious questions about the FA's principles. City come with piles of money, amounts that Doncaster could never dream of, which will help develop the women's game. Their financial future is secure. But what about proving your worth on the pitch and earning promotion? The other seven members of the current Super League are furious. Vic Akers, the general manager of Arsenal Ladies, called the decision "morally scandalous." And the Belles" appeal is believed to touch on the apparent bias towards City's financial clout. The FA wants to professionalise and improve the women's game, make it sustainable and capitalise on all the enthusiasm shown during the London Olympics. And the money that it is pumping in is wonderful for all the young girls who spend their lunchtimes kicking a ball and dreaming of shiny new boots. But moving in this direction does not mean that women's football has to ape men's. The two are different animals. Much of the appeal of women's football comes from its lack of self-regard, its closeness to fans, the approachability of the players, its affordability, its spirit, its roots. Does success have to mean surrendering to rampant capitalism and all it entails? Just look at the Premier League - a giant cash machine which gorges on money, treads on the weak and spits out romance. The Belles went into the appeal hopeful but worried. Duncan Milligan, of the Community Belles (a social enterprise initiative), said: "If we are demoted it will tear our club apart, because our players will want to play in the top league. It is not a question of their loyalty, their managers on the international scene will want them playing top football. And we'll have to start afresh. And so the club set up in 1969 by a group of women who sold raffle tickets on the terraces of Doncaster Rovers look into the abyss. A decision is expected by Monday. The pragmatic solution would be to increase the size of Super League One from eight teams to 10. And it is pragmatism not idealism that is the Belles" lifeline.