A day after a pair of published reports described bleak living and working conditions at the New Jersey professional women's soccer team he owns, Gov. Phil Murphy released a statement Wednesday night saying the players "deserve better" and that he's requiring management to "improve" the situation.

"I don't find the status quo tolerable -- and these players deserve better," Murphy said of his team, Sky Blue FC, in his first public comments since the reports.

"They deserve to operate in a professional and supportive environment so they can do what they do best -- play the game, inspire fans, and build community through the power of the world's most popular sport," he added.

Two soccer news websites -- The Equalizer and Once A Metro -- published reports Tuesday in which former players and others affiliated with Sky Blue say players have been set up to live in shack-like homes, play in facilities without showers, and practice in dirty clothes because of a lack of laundry service, among other complaints.

Murphy is the majority owner of the team, which is based in Tinton Falls and plays its home games at Yurcak Field at Rutgers University in Piscataway.

The governor is the majority owner, though he says he does not manage the day-to-day operations of the club.

A former player who asked to remain anonymous confirmed the team's conditions to NJ Advance Media on Wednesday.

"Phil Murphy will claim that he's the governor and that's what he's focused on, but he's the owner," the ex-player said in an interview. "This is simple stuff. Be more involved or sell it to somebody that wants to do something with it."

Murphy, a die-hard soccer fan and former Goldman Sachs banking executive, said in his statement Wednesday that he and his wife, First Lady Tammy Murphy, invested in the team years ago because it "bothered us to our core that little girls who played soccer in the U.S., unlike other countries, did not have a professional league to aspire to as they grew up and developed a love for the game."

Murphy said they wanted to "promote the advancement of women's soccer and harness its potential to inspire fans, especially young girls, to reach for the stars."

"The past decade has been challenging, to say the least," he continued. "The team has not been remotely financially successful and the league has struggled to stay afloat. But our commitment to women's soccer has not wavered and our sole motivation -- ensuring women had an opportunity to play professionally in the U.S. -- remains to this day. Sky Blue FC is now the longest-running professional women's soccer team in the United States."

Murphy added that "like male athletes, women athletes deserve a first-rate experience, both in the workplace and off the field."

"It is clear that the players on Sky Blue FC have not consistently received such treatment," he continued. "That is simply not acceptable."

Thus, Murphy said, he and fellow owner Steven Temares -- the CEO of Bed, Bath & Beyond -- have "required accountability from team management to improve working conditions for players."

"Although our staff is dedicated and hardworking and some progress has already been made, more work remains to be done," Murphy added.

A spokesman for Murphy -- who became New Jersey's governor in January -- initially declined comment Tuesday and deferred to Sky Blue.

"We take any concerns from our players seriously and are actively engaged in discussions with players and team leadership to ensure their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed," team spokesman Mary Smoot said Tuesday.

A source with the club told NJ Advance Media that many of the housing complaints from the players were from previous years and that the situation has improved.

The source also said housing is difficult in New Jersey, where the cost of living is among the highest of any state in the nation.

Tax returns show Murphy has lost about $5 million on the team over the years, including about $523,000 in 2016.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Steve Politi contributed to this report.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.