FQSW see merit in A-League expansion

FFA names successful A-League expansion bids

Melbourne Victory's Leigh Broxham (right) gets past his Roar opponent. The Victory will have another derby to look forward to in 2019 with Western Melbourne set the join the A-League. Picture: DAN PELED

FOOTBALL: Nigel Fanning sees merit in the expansion of the A-League.

The Football Queensland South West chairman believes the decision to add two new teams to the national competition is a great way to re-engage a disinterested fan base.

However, he also believes more needs to be done.

"The A-League is at a critical point,” Fanning said.

"Fan engagement is waning, they (the fans) are disinterested and something needs to be done.

"The football being played at the moment isn't appealing - the competition needs to be more exciting.

"Expansion is a good thing but we they must also be working toward creating a B-League and a promotion-relegation system to increase the quality of the football.”

Six bids were in the running for a spot at the A-League table before the FFA settled on Western Melbourne and Macarthur South West Sydney.

Melbourne will join the competition next season ahead of Sydney's entry in 2020 and Fanning believes both clubs would do well to look at Western Sydney Wanderers.

Wanderers club stakeholders "engaged” the western Sydney football community during their development.

Fans voted on the club's colours, logo and name resulting in a passionate and engaged supporter base from day one.

"The FFA has been very measured and careful in expansion,” Fanning said.

"In Western Sydney Wanderers they created something unique.

"The community were heavily involved in the process and they've been a success as a result.

"If the two new clubs can copy that it will go a long way to them being successful.”

Originally published as FQSW see merit in A-League expansion