Auckland FC management has revealed it is targeting Football Ferns goalkeeper Anna Leat for its inaugural women’s side as they prepare to join the A-League next season.

The 23-year-old departed Women’s Super League club Aston Villa on mutual terms this week, citing she wanted to be closer to home.

AFC director of football Terry McFlynn told the Herald her experience would be valuable to the new team.

“She’s on the list of players that we’re wanting to engage with as we start off the programme. It’s about having good-quality players and good-quality people in the building.”

Leat appeared 22 times for the top English club; represented the Football Ferns at the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games; and was in the squad for the home Fifa Women’s World Cup in 2023.

New Zealand players embrace goalkeeper Anna Leat after she scored the final penalty during a penalty shootout in the team's quarter-final match against Japan. Photo / AP

She was also between the posts when the New Zealand under-17 women made history finishing third at the 2018 age-group World Cup in Uruguay.

The Herald understands Leat isn’t the only Fern who could be homebound, with AFC interested in Katie Bowen, Claudia Bunge and Jacqui Hand.

“There’s a definite lot of interest from junior [Ferns] and senior [Ferns] right across the spectrum, which is great,” McFlynn said.

Auckland FC are believed to be interested in Katie Bowen too. Photo / Photosport

“We want to get as many Football Ferns back as possible. [There’s been] a lot of interest from Australian girls, from overseas girls.

“I think the success of the club to date on the men’s side has been a big drawcard for a lot of females who want to come and be part of it as well.

“We have contractual situations across the world that don’t allow us to do anything as yet, but there’s definitely been a lot of conversations with agents.”

Auckland FC director of football Terry McFlynn faced a unique challenge in building the new club. Photo / Photosport

The Herald understands some Wellington Phoenix players, too, have reached out to the new club about a possible move north.

“I’d probably be wrong to say yes on that question, but let’s just say there’s been a lot of interest from a lot of players,” McFlynn responded when asked about Phoenix players.

He plans to replicate the rollout of the men’s side since they were announced in late 2023. That would include how they build their squad, wanting a bulk made up of Ferns and domestic talent.

“The recruitment process has already started identifying players and it’s very similar to what we did with the boys.

“We want to get as many New Zealand girls back as possible, get as many Auckland girls ... add in some Aussies and then you get your international players as well on top of that.”

‘Clean slate’

When signing on Ferns, McFlynn wants to build its own culture and mentality aside from the national team. It comes after New Zealand head coach Jitka Klimkova sensationally quit after allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

He said he won’t tolerate any hostilities lingering from the Ferns environment seeping into his team.

“I think if there’s disharmony in a group, there’s a reason we’ve got it and that’s not being disrespectful to anyone else’s environment, but we’ve got a unique opportunity where it’s a clean slate.

“It’s more an opportunity than a threat to set the culture right from day one.

McFlynn, who spent 14 years at Sydney FC as a player and the general manager of football, said the key would be creating the right environment for the players.

“Our culture’s a group of people with a set of common goals and beliefs and we went about it very firmly when we set up the men’s team. The girls will be no different. What is important is that we’ve got the overarching club values, but the team essence has to come from the players and there has to be genuine buy-in.”

Chief executive Nick Becker told the Herald one aspect that might not align with the men’s team was where their women would play their home matches.

“We’re currently exploring options and North Harbour Stadium in Albany is on the list,” Becker said.

It’s where the men’s team training facility and coaching offices are based and would be extended for the women’s team for the 2025-26 season.

McFlynn confirmed they’re conducting final interviews for the head coach role that is set to be announced in late January or early February.

“We’reprobably down to three at the minute. Anna Mowbraw is going to be heavily involved in the female side as well, so we’ll present a preferred candidate to the board and then go from there."

Despite not having been officially confirmed by the club, the Herald understands the shortlist includes: Melbourne Victory’s Jeff Hopkins, former Perth Glory coach Alex Epakis, Eastern Suburbs AFC coach Katie Duncan, New Zealand under-17 coach Alana Gunn, and former Western Sydney Wanderers coach Catherine Cannuli.

Bonnie Jansen is a multimedia journalist in the NZME sports team. She’s a football commentator and co-host of the Football Feverpodcast, and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a fulltime journalist.