Dugdale said it is important that the club sees football players as “people, not just players”, which is why she is eager to speak out about this situation.

Apart from last year’s reading, Wolf Women’s players were frustrated in April because the club had decided not to apply for the women’s championship, even though the players believed they were pursuing promotion.

Dugdale said she was “too worried about speaking out” when she was on Reading last year but didn’t want the women’s team to continue to suffer lower pain on the pyramid.

She added: "The advice we got said we shouldn't speak out, we should protect ourselves in ensuring we get the final salary and make sure we don't look like troublemakers for future clubs - all of which are very kind-hearted."

“Last year, I accepted the advice. But, ultimately, my top priority is currently affecting and improving the competition for women.

"I don't think there was enough noise in Reading last year. I wasn't brave enough to say it (speak out loud). I think Blackburn can do that this year, and it's acceptable.

"I don't want more players or employees to go through this uncertainty and difficult period of ours. I want the women's game to continue moving forward."

Dugdale said she earns £15,000 per year in Blackburn (below the national minimum wage) and most players average £9,000 per year.

She competed from southern England to Blackburn on weekends and played with a friend, not one of them exhausted.

The 28-year-old added that she was "lucky" represented by the Professional Football Players Association (PFA), but most Blackburn players do not have legal support.

Moving forward, she called for change.

"The problem at the moment is that if you're like I'm playing in the Women's Super League, you can only be part of the female player, just like I'm at Doncaster Belles," Dugdale said.

“In the men’s competition, it stretched to Level 4. Now, the women’s championships are totally professional and I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be covered by the PFA.

"Many of my teammates have not received my support yet, which is priceless. I think this needs to be changed."

Dugdale also called for a more stringent review process for the “right person test” – a background check conducted by the Football Association to ensure that the club’s potential owners and directors are suitable for buying and running.

"What parameter is this? Is it a sweeping test that deals with a team of men, and the team of women is just bolted?" she added.

“I think it’s about understanding and improving it to make sure the owner’s intentions are right for the women’s team.”