10 June 2020

Wales manager Jayne Ludlow confident women's football will continue to grow

Wales football manager Jayne Ludlow has said she is still confident the women’s game will grow despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

This comes after former England star Kelly Smith said recently she believes the women’s game has been ’pushed aside’ as their league’s have ended prematurely. 

Ludlow told BBC Sport Wales: "I don't think we will ever get to the point where the finances are similar in regard to the top level of the Premier League and the female leagues. That is not going to happen.

"I think clubs are just going to have to tighten their belts a bit in the short term. I hope that won't have too much of a knock-on effect to all the other drivers behind the game now.

"I think there are lots of good people in high-level positions in the game that will still want to ensure it carries on growing."

She added women’s football being the ’norm’ now is a ’game-changer’.

"It is the norm now for females to play the game, you don't have to put up with the prejudices. That is the game-changer.

"People talk about the media, the structural and sponsorship aspects which go with it.

“But for me the game-changer long term is that there are more young kids playing because their families are happy for them to play.”

Ludlow’s side are due to be back in action on September 22 as they play Norway away in a rearranged Euro qualifier match.

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