WALES manager Jayne Ludlow believes that the nation has “woken up to a women’s football team” and she’s certain that her squad has a bright future despite defeat to England in their final World Cup qualifier, writes Josh Thomas.

Three goals in 12 second-half minutes from Toni Duggan, Jill Scott and Nikita Parris helped seal a 3-0 win for the Lionesses at Rodney Parade and with it a place in next year’s World Cup in France.

Wales must wait to see if they can claim a play-off place but Ludlow believes there is more to come from her team in the future.

“We’ve said all the way through this journey it’s a bigger thing than just our senior national team getting results right now,” she said.

“We have work to do as an association to make sure we provide things for your females now.

“We need to make sure that we do have players playing at the top level and more of them.

“It would be really nice to see in the next two, three campaigns a fully professional Wales outfit stepping on the pitch for the women’s team.”

But with all the foundations set for a bright future, Ludlow feels that her team can improve in the years to come.

“Right now, if you look at this national senior team, the majority are hopefully still going to fight for these shirts in the future,” she added.

“If you look at this campaign you will look at what a great experience it was and they will learn a huge amount from it.

“They should be pretty much like I am, I want more. We can achieve more.”

After playing games throughout the campaign at the Cardiff City Stadium, the Liberty Stadium in Swansea and Newport’s Spytty Park and Rodney Parade, Ludlow would like to find a home for her team.

“Obviously we are hoping to have our own place in the future which will change things for us.

“We want professional facilities and unfortunately there is small choice with regards to that.

“But that is changing so who knows? Maybe we can fill bigger stadiums in the future. That is what I hope for and we are appreciative of it, we love it and hopefully we can keep building in the future.”