Hope that new FFA Board will push quickly on A-League expansion

EXPANSION of the A-League for next season is back on the agenda, as hopes rise that the new board of Football Federation Australia will quickly give the green light for two new teams.

EXPANSION of the A-League for next season is back on the agenda, as hopes rise that the new board of Football Federation Australia will give the green light for two new teams to start in October.

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As the 11 candidates for election to FFA’s board jostle for position ahead of Monday’s deciding annual general meeting, A-League management have made substantial steps forward in compiling a shortlist of bidders they believe would be ready to launch for next season.

Once the new FFA board is voted in on Monday, a recommendation for preferred bidders will be presented to them as soon as possible afterwards — plus the strong suggestion that the new teams should be introduced next season.

A delegation of senior FFA bosses have held field trips to visit a number of bids in recent days, and made clear their hopes that the competition will not have to wait another season before expanding.

Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop. Picture: AAP

One of the field trips came on Monday, when FFA CEO David Gallop, A-League boss Greg O’Rourke, FFA COO Mark Falvo and commercial head Luke Bould met all the Melbourne-based bids, and toured some of the sites nominated for possible stadiums and training grounds.

The selections will come from six remaining bidders who have made it this far: the two Sydney-based consortiums, Southern Expansion and Macarthur South West Sydney (NSW), three from Victoria including Western Melbourne, Team 11 and South Melbourne plus Canberra.

It remains unclear whether the new board will meet immediately or take its time. The four directors elected on Monday can appoint a further three — though one candidate, former Socceroo Craig Foster, has indicated he is not prepared to be appointed, arguing that election is necessary to give him a mandate for reform.

However it’s believed Foster is struggling to secure the required votes, with a number of stakeholders indicating they will back candidates seen as more consensus driven.

Monday’s AGM will be preceded by an emergency general meeting to appoint the independent chair of the newly established women’s council, which will hold 10 of the total 100 votes to elect new FFA directors.

The Team 11 consortium this week meets A-League hierarchy and media at Casey Fields in Cranbourne, which would be a venue if the proposed team is successful in its A-League bid.

Along with the yet-to-be confirmed chair it will consist of three representatives nominated by the member federations, three by the clubs and three by the players’ union.

The clubs have put forward Sydney FC director Erica Berchtold, Melbourne City’s head of community Sue Crow and Melbourne Victory director Caroline Carnegie.

A further three nominated by Professional Footballers Australia, Alex Wilkinson, Lydia Williams and Elise Kellond-Knight will be there via proxy and represented by deputy chief executive Kate Gill.

The only name confirmed by the member federations at this stage is believed to be the unanimously supported Janette Spencer from Football West.

It’s understood up to five candidates have put themselves forward for the position of chair, with the nominations committee set to review them today.