Alex Scott believes the new £8million TV deal for the Women’s Super League is ‘ground-breaking’ for the sport.
On Monday, the FA announced a new three-year partnership with Sky Sports and the BBC.
The deal will see WSL matches shown live on Sky Sports, as well as BBC One and BBC Two, over the next three seasons.
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Clubs in both the Super League and Women’s Championship look set to receive a portion of the revenue, improving their ability to grow the game and their chances in European competition.
It’s reportedly worth around £8million per season and could be extended once the current deal expires.
Reacting to the news, Scott told the PA news agency: “Obviously it’s about growing the game. Having it broadcast on BBC and Sky is making sure more people are watching and seeing the game develop, and recognising certain players.
“The other side, the money and the revenue that is going to come into the game to help it grow, is needed as well.
“It’s such a ground-breaking deal on so many levels. It goes back down to grassroots – the fact that young girls now can come home from school and watch a women’s match and it’s just totally normal.
“You want that so then young girls playing in the playground will be like ‘I want to be like Lucy Bronze, I want to be like Steph Houghton’, and they stay in the sport.
“So I think it’s planting those seeds now, and hopefully that next generation will come through.”
This weekend, Scott’s former team Arsenal take on rivals Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
The Gunners are embroiled in a Champions League qualification battle with Manchester United.
Scott thinks the Red Devils might not have enough to take third spot: “I love everything Casey Stoney (United’s manager) has done – for them to be even be up there and challenging already and thinking and talking about the Champions League is huge.
“But I do think because of the result, they may just miss out this season.”
Stoney’s team face West Ham on Saturday while Man City play Reading.
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