Bidders in dark on A-League expansion with FFA board expected to put off choosing new teams
WOULD-BE A-League bidders remain in the dark over the future of expansion, with Football Federation Australia’s board certain to put off a decision next week.
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WOULD-BE A-League bidders remain in the dark over the future of expansion, with Football Federation Australia’s board certain to put off a decision next week.
With several members of the FFA board expected to stand down next month after major changes to the governance of the sport were finally passed, it’s being seen as inconceivable that they could make a decision on which teams will join the competition, and when.
With a new A-League working group in place to design a new model for the competition by the end of March, it’s increasingly seen as being likely that the choice of new teams will be delayed until the new year – almost certainly putting back their introduction until season 2020/21.
Though FFA’s management is expected to make a presentation on the eight short-listed bidders at Tuesday’s board meeting, anointing two for approval, a number of bids say they expect the decision to be delayed.
Though the example of Western Sydney’s formation from scratch in six months has been used, a number of bidders have indicated they would prefer a longer lead time if the green light is not given within the next month.
Existing A-League clubs have also voiced concerns about the dangers of putting new clubs together hurriedly and the likelihood they would then struggle on the pitch.
In a statement, A-League head Greg O’Rourke said the board would make a decision about the future of expansion at Tuesday’s meeting.
“Whatever that decision is, we hope to communicate it to all parties within 24 hours,” he said.
Gino Marra, chairman of the Macarthur South West United bid consortium, said the group had not heard anything formally from FFA on whether the decision will be deferred, but said the timing would not affect their application.
"My view is expansion will definitely happen,” he said. “I don't know whether it's going to be announced in the next two weeks, or whether it will be delayed a month or six months.
“But the general consensus from everyone I speak to is that they want to see expansion happen. It's just a matter of trying to work it within what's happening now.
"We've been waiting for a long time to get an A-League licence and we'll continue pushing. If we miss out on it we'll continue to push until they believe the south-west is ready for it.
"We would've hoped that come October 31, if we're announced we're on the phone 30 seconds later to prospective coaches and CEOs. But we believe the game has a massive future and we'll just continue pushing to have our voices heard and hopefully we get to the point where we get close to it.”
The confusion comes as the Association of Australian Football Clubs, which represent the NPL semi-professional sides lobbying for a national second division, appointed former A-League boss Archie Fraser to lead its planning and lobbying on the issue.
Fraser ran the competition from 2009 for 14 months before falling out with then FFA CEO Ben Buckley.
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