Stoke City Women are to turn semi-professional next season, get paid - and come under the remit of Potters technical director Ricky Martin.
"The women's team will now come under my leadership," said Martin.
"Since I joined, it's one area I felt needed a bit more focus - and to come under the umbrella of the whole club."
The Potters women currently play in the third tier of English women's football, the National League Northern Premier, in which they are sixth out of 12.
Martin left his job as West Ham United academy boss to become technical director at Stoke in November.