Jill Ellis: “Adding resources to our national team programs is going to positive.” (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

Jill Ellis has no problem with the U.S. Soccer Federation adding a general manager for her women’s national team, but the head coach doesn’t expect she will have a say on who gets the position. Which is fine with Ellis.

Newly elected federation president Carlos Cordeiro is scheduled to meet with USSF CEO and executive director Dan Flynn and Ellis at U.S. Soccer House in Chicago this week about looking at candidates for separate GMs for the men’s and women’s national squads.

“Adding resources to our national team programs is going to positive,” Ellis said during a conference call with the media Wednesday afternoon. “In terms of my actual involvement, I don’t have a vote, so I really just trust what they’re going to do and believe it’s going to be positive in terms what we’re going to do.”

With the men’s team without a permanent coach — former assistant coach Dave Sarachan is the caretaker coach — it is more imperative for the federation to name a boss for that team. No timetable has been set as to when a GM will be named for either team.

“I’ve been on the periphery of this because obviously the presidency and everything had to play out,” Ellis said. “I don’t go to board meetings. For me personality, I really just focus on what I can control and that’s getting the players ready. Having said that, I do trust the process. I think the plan to have a GM in terms of timing … I think it’s a little different on the men’s side.”

Ellis will begin preparing the American women for Women’s World Cup qualifying later this year with a seven-day training camp in Orlando, Fla. Feb. 19. Then the U.S. will participate in the SheBelieves Cup early next month.

“What I got from Dan it’s certainly targeted, it’s in process,” she said. “But I think it’s going to be something they take their time on in terms of making sure it’s a vetted process.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.