Aussie football boss Danny Townsend explains how he’ll stop Matildas from falling into post-World Cup trap that snared the Socceroos – and reveals his biggest regret about A-League grand final scandal

Danny Townsend is confident the Matildas will be an ongoing success in Australia post the Women’s World Cup – and also revealed his biggest regret about moving the A-League and W-League grand finals to Sydney until 2025.

In a wide-ranging interview with Daily Mail Australia, the CEO of Australian Professional Leagues, who oversee the men and women’s domestic competitions, firmly believes the world game is ready to explode across the nation.

Be it A-League and W-League expansion, the emergence of elite sanctioned Academies and co-hosting a World Cup for the first time, Townsend is well aware football has an opportunity it cannot afford to slip through its fingers.

And Townsend plans to be a key figure in ensuring the code finally realises its potential. 

‘We are about to see a generational opportunity to leverage the sport,’ he said.

Australian Professional Leagues CEO Danny Townsend is confident the Matildas will be an ongoing success in Australia post the Women’s World Cup 

‘The World Cup will be fantastic for Australia and New Zealand. We will have many new eyes on the sport, fans who have never previously been to a Matildas or W-League game live.

‘Once they realise their sporting heroes are playing week in, week out locally, the challenge for us is to keep fans engaged beyond the tournament.’

With a capacity crowd of 81,500 predicted at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Thursday night when the Matildas tackle the Republic of Ireland in their Group B opener, the influence of the W-League will be on full display.

All 23 players in Tony Gustavsson’s squad cut their teeth in the competition, before going onto become established stars or heading to Europe.

Captain Sam Kerr was just 15 when she debuted for Perth Glory in 2008, and these days the Chelsea striker is widely regarded as the best women’s player on the planet.

‘It is why expansion is so important,’ Townsend continued.

Matildas skipper Sam Kerr will be the face of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand

Kerr (pictured right) made her W-League debut for Perth Glory aged 15 – and is now a global star with Chelsea

‘The talent is there for all to see, young players have opportunities previous generations could only dream about.

‘Getting grassroots football right is vital so players can emerge and shine at the highest level.’

Townsend has no doubt Australia could also one day host a men’s World Cup, pointing to the infrastructure already in place.

He also admitted Football in Australia has had a previous tendency to rest on its laurels.

After winning the Asian Cup in 2015, plenty of football fans anticipated the code would enjoy a surge in popularity – instead it struggled to stay relevant at times.

Current Tottenham manager and former Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou stated the impressive triumph in Australia ‘barely caused a ripple’ – and Townsend agreed.

‘That is a fair statement, for football to progress it needs to be a unified effort,’ he said.

‘When I say that I mean Football Australia, Federations and state governments need to be on the same page.

Young gun Mary Fowler (pictured playing in the friendly against France last Friday) is poised to be a breakout star at the Women’s World Cup

The Matildas are embracing the level of expectation on local shores and are ready to entertain in front of capacity crowds

Katrina Gorry is an inspiration to many after returning to the Matildas not long after having a baby girl

‘For whatever reason that wasn’t the case after 2015, but if the Matildas excel in front of huge crowds, the potential can finally be unlocked.’

Townsend is also well aware he is a football villain in the eyes of many supporters after he sold the A-League and W-League Grand Finals to Destination NSW on a reported $12million deal until 2025.

Furious fans – enraged they weren’t consulted about the development – voted with their feet, refusing to attend many subsequent A-League and W-League fixtures across the nation.

Then there were the infamous scenes during the Melbourne derby last December at AAMI Park, which attracted unwanted global headlines after a number of Victory ‘fans’ stormed the pitch and City goalkeeper Tom Glover was attacked with a bucket.

‘I stand by the [grand final] decision, it was important to get with the times,’ Townsend said.

‘The other codes [NRL and AFL] have stand-alone venues … but if I had my time again, the execution of the announcement could have been better.

‘Views of the fans are always important, and I get that some people don’t embrace change.

‘But ultimately, the decision was made with long term sustainability in mind.’

Speculation that both domestic competitions don’t need expansion teams was also dismissed by Townsend.

‘The women’s game is only going to grow beyond the World Cup, and look how successful Western United’s women were in their first season, making the Grand Final,’ he said.

‘Central Coast Mariners will be a great addition [in October] and we have high hopes for Wellington Phoenix.

‘In the men’s, Canberra and Auckland are franchises we are confident will be competitive.

‘Football is about opportunities.. look at Jordy Bos and Marco Tilio…they earnt their stripes in A-League Academy teams and now are based overseas in Belgium and Scotland respectively.

‘The pool of talent is bigger than ever before, and with supporters such as Paramount backing our competitions long term, the onus is on the players to show what they can do so they can realise their sporting dreams.’