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On Wednesday, this new ownership entity disclosed the recruitment of Anja van Ginhoven, England's managerial lead working with Sarina Wiegman, to serve as their director of global women’s football operations. The new multi-team ownership group, with Bay FC of San Francisco as the inaugural team among its holdings, has a history in recruiting from the English FA.

The hiring this year of Cossington, the prominent previous technical director at the Football Association, as top executive acted as a demonstration of ambition by this organization. She knows women’s football thoroughly and currently has put together a leadership team with a deep understanding of the evolution of the women's game and packed with practical experience.

Van Ginhoven is the third central staffer of Wiegman’s setup to leave in the current year, following the chief executive departing prior to the Euros and the assistant manager, Veurink, moving on to become manager of the Netherlands, however Van Ginhoven's choice arrived more quickly.

Leaving proved to be a jarring experience, yet “I’d taken my decision to depart the Football Association some time back”, Van Ginhoven states. “My agreement lasting four years, just as the assistant and head coach did. As they re-signed, I had already said I wasn't sure if I would do the same. I had grown accustomed to the whole idea that post-Euros my time with England would end.”

The Euros became a sentimental tournament due to that. “I remember very clearly, vividly, having a conversation with Wiegman where I basically told her about my decision and after which we agreed: ‘We share a single dream, how incredible it would be that we win the Euros?’ In life, dreams don't aspirations are realized often yet, remarkably, this one did.”

Dressed in orange, she has divided loyalties after her time working in England, during which she contributed to claiming two Euros in a row and served on Wiegman’s staff for the Netherlands’ triumph in the 2017 European Championship.

“The English side will always hold an emotional connection for me. Therefore, it will be challenging, especially with the knowledge that the team are due to arrive for the upcoming fixtures shortly,” she notes. “In matches between England and the Netherlands, which side do I back? Today I have on orange, though tomorrow English white.”

You can change direction and move quickly in a speedboat. In a small team like this, that is simple to achieve.

Bay FC was not in the plans when the management specialist determined that it was time for a change, however everything aligned perfectly. The chief executive initiated the recruitment and common principles proved essential.

“Almost from the very first moment we connected we experienced an instant connection,” remarks she. “You’re immediately on the same level. Our conversations have been thorough on various topics around how you grow the game and our shared vision for the right approach.”

These executives are among several to make a move from high-profile jobs within European football for a blank sheet of paper in the US. The Spanish club's technical director for women's football, González, has been unveiled as Bay Collective’s new global sporting director.

“I felt strongly drawn to that strong belief of the power of women's football,” she says. “I've been acquainted with Kay Cossington for many years; back when I was with Fifa, she was the technical director of England, and it’s easy to make these decisions knowing you'll be working alongside individuals who motivate you.”

The depth of knowledge among their staff makes them unique, explains she, as Bay Collective part of a group fresh club ownership ventures that have started in recent years. “This is a key differentiator for us. Various methods are valid, however we strongly feel in ensuring deep football understanding,” she states. “The entire leadership have been on a journey within the women's game, for most of our lives.”

According to their online statement, the goal of Bay Collective is to advocate and innovate an advanced and lasting environment for women's football clubs, founded on effective practices to meet the varied requirements of female athletes. Succeeding in this, with collective agreement, eliminating the need for persuasion for why you would take certain actions, is hugely liberating.

“I liken it to going from a tanker to a speedboat,” says she. “You’re basically driving across unmapped territories – a common Dutch expression, I'm unsure if it translates well – and you just need to rely on your own knowledge and expertise to choose wisely. Adjusting course and speeding up is possible using a speedboat. In a lean group like this, that is simple to achieve.”

González notes: “With this opportunity, 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 allows you to do any direction you choose, within the rules of the game. That’s the beauty of what we are building together.”

Their goals are lofty, those in leading roles are voicing opinions the football community want to hear and it will be fascinating to follow the development of this organization, Bay FC and any clubs added to the portfolio.

For a flavour of what is to come, what are the key aspects in a high-performance setting? “{It all starts and ends with|Everything begins and concludes with|The foundation and culmination involve