City chairman Steve Lansdown has called on the FA to do more to support women's football after announcing the club's ladies team is to fold.

The club has disbanded its two senior women's sides and the City girls youth centre of excellence is set to merge with the Bristol Academy for girls at Filton College.

This follows a decision by the FA to fund only one centre of excellence in the Bristol area - a formal announcement on this will be made in the next few days.

Steve Lansdown told bcfc.co.uk: "It is a sad day because the women's side was an independent community venture we were very proud of and to which we had given strong support in recent years.

"The sad fact is there is no future in women's football at grassroots and senior level, the way things are at present.

"We are not the first club to recognise this as Manchester United have made the same decision, and I know a number of other clubs are thinking along the same lines.

"Despite the FA's big boast that more and more girls are getting involved in football, in reality there is simply no incentive for clubs like ours to run their own teams and pay wages to players.

"The returns are simply not there financially. Unless the FA ensures clubs are properly rewarded then the future really does look bleak for all but a few clubs at the very top."

He added: "The situation has been made worse by the FA's move, in their wisdom, to reduce the number of girls centre of excellences across the country."

Bristol City Women's Football Club chairman Nick King told bcfc.co.uk: "Bristol City Football Club have been fantastic supporters of women's football for the past ten years or so.

"Unfortunately, after an annual review of the women's club, we have had to take a harsh line and decide to call it a day.

"If anything the blame rests squarely on the FA's shoulders for not providing the right incentive for clubs like ours to achieve success. There is simply nothing for our girls to play for."

The Bristol City women's team were formed in 1990 after the club's community team made a commitment to develop women's football at Ashton Gate.

Last season the senior side finished sixth in the FA Southern Premier Division. Its second side competed in the National Reserve League. The Centre of Excellence ran sides at under-10, under-12, under-14 and under-16 level.

Its biggest achievement was reaching the FA Womens Cup semi-final in 1994 and winning promotion to the Premier League in 2004.