Unlike Ludlow, Grainger will only be in charge of Wales’ senior side, rather than overseeing the age-grade teams as well.
The 38-year-old believes it is an exciting time for women’s football, with more resources set to be given to the women’s game, and feels her experiences with the English Football Association mean she is well placed to grow the game further.
“It was a tough decision to leave the Football Association, it’s been a big part of my career, but on of my ambitions has always been to lead a senior team and this opportunity is at exactly the right time and I am so excited about that,” she added.
“I think my experience was a big part of me getting the job, my whole career has been geared towards getting to this level.
“I am a proud ambassador for the game and I think that passion was key to the decision to allow me to take this team forward and the belief I have in doing that.
“It’s an evolving game, changing rapidly. The exposure it is now getting, in the WSL [Women’s Super League] for example, is right and the way it’s growing in the UK is so positive. It is something we all want to build on.
“The number-one aim is to qualify for a major tournament and, in terms of our mentality, that starts with the World Cup campaign, I am looking forward to the draw on 30 April.
“But it’s a mentality switch for me, it’s how we build our strategy for the four years.”
Grainger has no doubt she can be the women to lead Wales to a first major finals.
“Absolutely, I do, yes,” she said, when asked if that is possible.
“Over the next four years we’ll have a plan in place and the priority will be that qualification to a major tournament.
“That’s not going to be easy, but it shouldn’t be easy.”
“That’ll be our focus, and everything that we put in place will be to meet that and achieve that goal.”