Mark Bosnich pleads with FFA to bring in four new A-League team and national second division

ONE of Australia’s most respected football voices has weighed-in on A-League’s expansion debate and has demanded the FFA start thinking big. Really big.

Tim Cahill at Maroubra Beach.

BE bold and in bring in four new A-League teams now, Australian soccer great Mark Bosnich has pleaded with Football Federation Australia.

The Fox Sports commentator has called for Melbourne, Tasmanian, Canberra and Wollongong teams to be included as soon as they’re ready.

Over 10 potential A-League bids have expressed interest in joining the national competition, but are in the dark about the FFA’s expansion plans and timelines.

Frustrated Bosnich said the fans were desperate for more regions and clubs to be represented in sport which became the first national competition back in 1977.

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“It should’ve been done yesterday,’’ Bosnich said.

“Don’t worry about two teams, get four teams in immediately, as soon as they’re ready.

“Whether it’s all four next season or in 2018, or two in the first season and two the next, it needs to be done.

“I’d go Tasmania, Canberra, Melbourne and Wollongong immediately.

“Tasmania needs to happen and in Melbourne, either Geelong or South Melbourne appear to be most ready but we’re hearing noises out of the south-east.

“Then I’d have two more, probably Brisbane and Sutherland, ready to go in two years’ time to get it to 16.

“Any teams that don’t get in the first round get them in the second round or get them into a national second division because there’s so much interest and a compilation of teams ready to join.’’

Mark Bosnich (R) says the FFA must be bold.

South Melbourne and Tasmania have met with FFA in the last month and are desperate to join next season, despite FFA indicating it was unlikely to expand until 2018-19.

But with the backing of Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman and Federal MP Andrew Wilke, multi-millionaire backers Harry Stamoulis and Robert Belteky are pushing for the Apple Isle club to join next season.

Bosnich said it was crucial to freshen up the repetitive, 10-team competition.

“We’re running out of time, the A-League is 12 years old. It’s time to act and lets strike while the iron’s hot,’’ he said.

“Get it up to 16 teams as quickly as possible so we’ve got two rounds instead of the existing three.

“Teams playing teach other twice in the space of a few week which, unless there’s a Cup competition thrown in, is ridiculous.

“The Melbourne derby is great but they’ve played each other three times in a short space of time.

“The Etihad Stadium derby in Round 2 is still fresh in the memory, yet we just had the second one with the FFA Cup semi-final thrown in.

“Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory could eventually play each other five times this season - lucky there are no Cup replays like in England.’’

Originally published as Mark Bosnich pleads with FFA to bring in four new A-League team and national second division