The former Socceroos striker has already insisted that a second successive World Cup qualification is another huge shot in the arm for football in this country and he believes the pace of that growth is a key factor.  

'Small steps' is the right approach in Mitchell's eyes and to that end he believes Football Federation Australia is pushing forward at the right speed.  

He told au.fourfourtwo.com: "Hopefully we can get a second tier A-League, that's the goal, and get an FA Cup going. I think it's still maybe a little premature (a second tier), we're still building the product as it is now.

"Going to 10 teams is a positive move, then going to 12 is another good move. It's small steps you know?"  

The Glory coach believes Australia has well and truly embraced the football bug now and that the sport's momentum is only going to carry it further still.

"Look at the kids playing the sport, it's popping up everywhere. You can't stop it," he said.  

While looking to the future, Mitchell feels acknowledgement should be made over efforts to get football to this point.

He added: "When you think what's been done in the last five years it's fantastic what the country's done and what the Federation have done.

"It's easy to knock but the positives outweigh, by the thousands, the negatives."