CASEY STONEY says fans should never have to choose between their men’s and women’s team.
The Manchester United boss saw her side lose 1-0 at rivals City.
A record 31,213 fans watched the first-ever Manchester derby in the Women’s Super League on Saturday.
Elsewhere, 24,564 watched Chelsea beat Spurs, figures boosted by the lack of Premier League games.
Stoney said: “Nine times out of ten the women’s team aren’t going to come out favourable if fans are made to choose.
“We need to put women’s football on at a time where people will want to come and watch it at a place where it’s accessible.
“We need to increase the visibility by making sure everyone knows where it’s on.”
But ex-England captain Stoney says WSL teams should sell out their own stadiums before setting their sights on bigger grounds.
Stoney added: “My opinion is that our women’s team stays at Leigh and not Old Trafford, we consistently try and get good crowds and we sell out there before we even look at the men’s stadium.
“Even if you put 30,000 in Old Trafford it will feel empty so I think it’s about having our home ground as our home ground and getting people through the turnstiles there first.”
