Rovers Ladies have lost their appeal against being denied entry in to the newly-formed Women’s Championship for the 2018/19 season.

It was revealed in May that Rovers, winners of the FA Women’s Northern Premier Division, were not one of the 12 sides to make up the revamped second tier of women’s football next season.

Rovers lodged an appeal with The Women’s Football Board, which has since been considered by an independent panel, who decided that the initial outcome should not be overturned.

"Obviously we're bitterly disappointed that we've been turned down as I feel we had a really strong case," boss Gemma Donnelly said.

"I still stand by the fact that the application was strong enough and now I think we have just got to accept we won't be part of the newly founded Championship."

Rovers will continue in the Women’s Northern Premier Division for the 2018/19 season and aim for a hat-trick of league titles having lost just two matches in the previous two seasons.

Last year also saw them record a historic league and cup treble.

However, they were beaten by the southern area winners, Charlton, at Bramall Lane in the play-off final.

They fell at the same hurdle in 2016/17 when they were beaten by Tottenham Hotspur.

However, from next season, new rules brought in by the FA mean the winners of the Northern Premier Division will earn automatic promotion and not face a play-off.

Donnelly added: "We'll go on to fight another season in the same league, the newly rebranded league and look to kick on again and I'd like to give my sincere thanks to Blackburn Rovers Football Club for supporting our appeal process.

"It was a lengthy process and consumed a number of senior management's time and it was a very costly process as well.

"It further reiterates the club's support for us and we all at the Ladies are very appreciative of the efforts made by the club."

Since the original application, two teams, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Sheffield FC, have both withdrawn from the Championship for financial reasons.

Crystal Palace have been promoted from the third tier to fill one of the places, but rather than source another replacement, it has been confirmed the Super League and Championship will both go ahead with just 11 teams.

The Championship will include the newly-formed Manchester United ladies team were admitted to the league as were Leicester City who finished second in Rovers’ division, while West Ham moved from the third tier to the Women’s Super League.