FA director Heather Rabbatts believes that there could be a female manager at a professional football club within the next 10 years.
Speaking at International Women's Day, the former Millwall executive spoke about the need for a change of attitude in the game.
"I think within a decade we will start to see some women appearing on the touchlines," Rabbatts told Sky Sports News.
"I would like to see more chief executives as women and more of the team doctors as women. We live in an age when over 50 per cent of medical students are women so I think it is about a commitment to the whole game in terms of representation."
However, West Ham United joint-chairman David Gold believes there will never be a female manager.
"How is she going to deliver that motivation before kickoff? How is she going to deliver?" Gold told Sky Sports News.
"I just find it very, very difficult to believe."
Gold works with Karren Brady, who is chief executive at the Hammers.
