Millie Bright says England players and the FA have settled dispute over bonuses

Millie Bright says an agreement has been reached between England players and the Football Association with regard to the dispute that has been ongoing over bonuses and commercial structures. Just prior to the summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand , the Lionesses in a statement tweeted by Bright expressed their disappointment at the matter having not been resolved before the tournament, and said they had decided to pause talks with the intention of revisiting them after. Asked for an update on the situation on Thursday, Bright – who captained the European champions at the World Cup, where they finished as runners-up – told a press conference: ‘We’ve had a really good conversation with the FA. ‘I think that conversation was needed, and the conversations will be ongoing moving forward between the leadership team and the FA, (with the) support of the PFA. We’re really positive that moving forward things will be different. ‘We have come to an agreement, but I think it’s bigger than just the bonus. For us it’s about being world leaders on and off the pitch, and as we know the women’s game is evolving very quickly and conversations like this need to happen in order to make sure in all areas we’re at the top of our game. ‘The conversation was extremely positive and as players we feel really confident moving forward about the structure we now have in place.’ Amid the dispute, England’s players were understood to have been left disappointed by the fact the FA was not following the lead of the Australian and American federations – where collective bargaining agreements are in place – in paying bonuses on top of the prize money ring-fenced for players in its payments to national associations by FIFA. When asked what other areas of discussion there had been aside from bonuses, Bright said: ‘A variety of things. I think it’s the whole package that comes with the women’s game. It is more than just finances, it’s everything to do with the next generation. The conversation was extremely positive and as players we feel really confident moving forward about the structure we now have in place. ‘We are extremely lucky and privileged that we have amazing facilities, we already set the tone in many areas. ‘I think those conversations are also just about checking in, and it’s about building those relationships so that if a problem does crop up we are in a position where we can have an open, honest conversation and be more solution-based. ‘That’s why we felt really positive from that conversation as players, because we want to be more solution-based moving forward. ‘I just feel lucky we’re in a position to come together and, one, come to an agreement, but actually, moving forward we are building a new structure where we can have more of that open dialogue to make sure everything stays where it needs to be.’