The economic crisis is growing and Eskilstuna United is at risk of forced relegation from the women's league.

If the club fails to show a positive equity, it risks being relegated one division.

- It's a bit post-corona for sports teams in general right now, where women's sports are particularly affected.

We see a situation where it is the men's clubs that will step into women's football in a positive sense, but then the challenge for us smaller associations will be how to cope, says vice chairman Pär Eriksson to SVT Sport.

The situation is serious and it will be an extraordinary challenge.

Eskilstuna has also already laid off staff during the year.

- In Eskilstuna, we have stretched the bow a little tight.

We gave the players better wages, we signed longer contracts, we hired a club manager and the money and ambitions are not enough.

So now we stand here and have a challenge in the fall to pass the elite license,

3 to 3.5 million

How big is the challenge?

- It is always difficult to say.

But say that it is in the order of 3 to 3.5 million, which we need to find now in the autumn in our own organization.

We need support from sponsors in Eskilstuna and we need to get the audience back.

How worried are you?

- This is serious, it is clear that I am worried.

But I am quite optimistic as Eskilstuna United has a strong position in Eskilstuna and I think that there is a strong ambition from everyone that we will make it through this.

That both companies, the municipality and ourselves must sort this out.

But it's clear that I'm worried, says Eriksson, who before the 2019 season stepped into United's board.

To cope with this, the club is hoping for help from companies in Eskilstuna.

- We are making major changes in our organization.

We are looking over the player squad and we are of course working hard with both our loyal sponsors that we have had over the years, but also on bringing in new sponsors.

Then we can probably handle this, says Pär Eriksson.

Eskilstuna United is currently in fifth place in the women's league table with 29 recorded points, the same number of points as Häcken but with a worse goal difference.