WSA to Wind Down in Conjunction with Historic PSA Merger by Howard Harding 30 October 2014
- The Professional Squash Association (PSA) and Women's Squash
Association (WSA) are set to join forces in an historic merger that
will see the professional ranks in the sport of squash administered by
one unified governing body for the first time ever. Following
a lengthy consultation process involving the sport's major stakeholders
over the past ten months, which included inviting both memberships of
the PSA and WSA to vote on the proposed merger, a decision was reached
on Monday October 28 that will see the Professional Squash Association
operate as the governing body for both the women's and men's ranks from
January 1, 2015. Continuing
to operate under the existing PSA name, the re-formed organisation will
be responsible for running the men's and women's professional game with
the strategic aims of increasing the level of equality and parity in
prize money and playing opportunities across the professional game. "We
have been in discussion with the WSA since the beginning of 2014
regarding a potential merger between the two associations," said PSA
Chief Executive Alex Gough. "Both
parties felt that a merger would provide a more unified base from which
to grow the sport of squash across the globe and to proactively
increase the levels of equality and opportunity for both genders at the
elite level. "We
are committed to driving the sport forward and have long-term plans in
place to achieve parity in prize-money across the sport and ensure that
equal opportunities are available for both male and female squash
players. "Whilst
also driving forward equality, we feel that a unified body will allow
us to present a more appealing product to potential sponsors and
broadcast partners and we look forward to undertaking the new challenge
when the cross-over period is completed in what will be an exciting new
era for the sport." As
a result of the merger the WSA will now begin a wind-down process, set
to be completed by December 31st 2014, when squash will usher in an
exciting new era of joint-responsibility and unified governance. With
the US Open leading the way in driving the equality-agenda within the
sport, having moved to a position of offering equal prize money for the
first time in 2013, the long-term aims of the PSA will be to increase
the overall level of prize money available in squash and narrow the gap
between genders. "The
WSA members are very excited to merge with the men and form one unified
governing body for professional squash," said WSA Chief Executive Tommy
Berden. "Over
the past ten months we have been able to discuss in depth how the
merger will benefit our sport and we really feel this is the right time
to move things forward for both the men's and the women's tour. "It's
encouraging to see that more promoters are following the example set by
the US Open to pay equal prize money and we are expecting more events
to follow suit in the upcoming year. "The
response from both memberships has been overwhelmingly positive and we
are looking forward to starting the transition phase to unify the two
associations."