A-League promotion and relegation unlikely for 15 years: FFA chairman

Promotion and relegation between the A-League and a second division is unlikely for the next 15 years, FFA chairman Chris Nikou says.

The FFA boss told the inaugural Football Writer's Festival he believed in the necessity of a second tier to bolster the growth of the Australian game and broaden the pathways for development of players, coaches and administrators.

FFA chairman Chris Nikou says promotion and relegation is still a way off.Credit: AAP

But he said it was essential that it was established with proper foundations, not a rickety structure that would collapse quickly - hence the need for caution over the timeline.

The chief impediment to any speedy implementation of promotion and relegation is the existence of the current A-League franchises' licences.

These, which were agreed by the previous Frank Lowy administration five years ago, give the current clubs the right to be in the A-League until 2034. The only exception is the Wellington Phoenix, whose current licence expires at the end of next season.

''As I stand here now promotion and relegation is unlikely until 2034,'' Nikou said in answer to a question from the audience.

''You need to have a second division established. Those clubs need to be able to step up ... if the gap is too big they won't be able to do it.''

The news will be a major disappointment to the AAFC, the Association of Australian Football Clubs, the body which is representing the second tier teams and sub A-League clubs who would hope to be amongst those making up a second division.

The AAFC has said that it hopes to get a national second division up and running as soon as 2020 - although it has not insisted that promotion and relegation follow on immediately.

Much of the detail on promotion and relegation and the way the football pyramid will dovetail with the top tier is due to be signposted at the end of next week when the New League Working Group, the committee established by the FFA, the A-League clubs, state federations and the players' union, PFA, is due to report on a potential model.

Nikou said that it wasn't a case of whether the game introduced a second division, but how it did so, as the sport needed to expand and grow.

''A-League expansion does that a little bit, we are going to 12 clubs, maybe 14, maybe 16.

''The second division does create more pathways ... if a player does not get an A-League or W-League contract then there's a chance to put themselves into the shop window.

''But I am not keen to have a model that's doomed to failure.''

Nikou also told his audience of soccer supporters that he had no regrets over committing the FFA's support to Bahrain's Sheikh Salman in the Asian Football Confederation's upcoming election, nor did he have any problems with the FFA's controversial decision to axe Matildas coach Alen Stajcic in January of this year, just five months away from the Women's World Cup in France.

Stajcic was eventually replaced by former Socceroos assistant Ante Milicic, who has made a successful start to the job with three wins in his first three games.

Nikou said: ''It's the right decision. I believed it then and I believe it now. The feedback coming out of the squad now is that it's a very good environment and gives us the best chance to do well in France. Alen has not said for one moment that he was illegally terminated.''

When asked about backing Sheikh Salman, Nikou said that Australia was acting to promote the best interests of Australian soccer.

''Australia needs to be a much more integrated part of the AFC for its voice to be heard. We had to make a call.''