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Midweek, Bay Collective announced the recruitment of Anja van Ginhoven, the English national team's general manager working with head coach Sarina Wiegman, taking on the role of overseer of worldwide women's football activities. The freshly established multi-club ownership body, with San Francisco’s Bay FC as the initial addition among its holdings, has previously engaged in bringing in talent from the national football governing body.

The selection earlier this year of Cossington, the influential previous technical director at the Football Association, as the chief executive was a clear statement from this organization. Cossington understands the women's game comprehensively and now has put together a management group with a deep understanding of the evolution of the women's game and packed with practical experience.

She is the third key figure of Wiegman's coaching team to leave in the current year, with the chief executive exiting prior to the European Championships and the assistant manager, Veurink, moving on to take up the role of head manager of the Dutch national team, however her decision arrived more quickly.

Moving on proved to be a shock to the system, but “I had decided to leave the FA well in advance”, she states. “I had a contract lasting four years, just as Arjan and Sarina had. Upon their extension, I previously indicated I was uncertain about renewing myself. I was already used to the whole idea that following the tournament my time with England would end.”

The Euros was a deeply felt tournament because of this. “I remember very clearly, vividly, discussing with Sarina when I disclosed about my decision and then we said: ‘We share a single dream, how incredible it would be to clinch the European title?’ In reality, it's rare that dreams come true frequently however, remarkably, this one did.”

Dressed in orange, Van Ginhoven has divided loyalties post her tenure working in England, where she helped achieve claiming two Euros in a row and was a part of Wiegman’s staff during the Dutch victory at Euro 2017.

“England will always hold an emotional connection for me. Therefore, it’s going to be tough, particularly now knowing that the team will be arriving for the upcoming fixtures soon,” she comments. “When England plays the Netherlands, which side do I back? Right now I'm in Dutch colors, though tomorrow English white.”

A speedboat allows for rapid direction changes. In a lean group like this one, that is simple to achieve.

Bay FC was not initially considered as the organisational wizard concluded it was time to move on, but everything aligned opportunely. The chief executive began assembling the team and mutual beliefs were key.

“Virtually from the start we met we experienced an instant connection,” states Van Ginhoven. “We were instantly aligned. We've discussed extensively on various topics concerning growing the sport and our shared vision for the right approach.”

The two leaders are not the only figures to relocate from prominent roles in the European game for a blank sheet of paper in the United States. Atlético Madrid’s female football technical lead, Patricia González, has been announced as Bay Collective’s new global sporting director.

“I felt strongly drawn by the firm conviction in the potential within the female sport,” González says. “I've been acquainted with Kay Cossington for an extended period; during my tenure at Fifa, she served as England's technical director, and such choices are straightforward when you know you are going to be surrounded by individuals who motivate you.”

The profound understanding within their group distinguishes them, says she, with Bay Collective one of several fresh club ownership ventures that have started in recent years. “That’s one of our unique selling points. Different approaches are acceptable, but we are firm in our belief in ensuring deep football understanding,” she adds. “All three of us have traveled a path within the women's game, probably for the best part of our lives.”

As their website states, the ambition of this group is to champion and pioneer a progressive and sustainable ecosystem for women's football clubs, built on proven methods to meet the varied requirements of women in sport. Succeeding in this, with everyone on the same page, eliminating the need for persuasion for specific initiatives, is incredibly freeing.

“I liken it to transitioning from a tanker to a speedboat,” states Van Ginhoven. “You are essentially navigating across unmapped territories – that’s a Dutch saying, I'm unsure if it translates well – and it's necessary to trust your personal insight and skills to choose wisely. You can pivot and accelerate rapidly in a speedboat. In a lean group like this, it's straightforward to accomplish.”

González notes: “Here, we have a completely white sheet of paper to start with. Personally, what we do involves shaping the sport on a wider scale and that white paper permits you to undertake anything you desire, within the rules of the game. That is the advantage of our collective project.”

The aspirations are significant, the management are expressing sentiments athletes and supporters are eager to hear and it will be compelling to follow the development of this organization, Bay FC and future additions to the group.

As a preview of upcoming developments, what are the key aspects for a top-level environment? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve