- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley today hinted further expansion of the A-League was just around the corner.
In Townsville to rubber-stamp North Queensland’s entry into the league as the tenth franchise in 2009/2010, Buckley said the FFA had ambitious plans for the next two-three years, which included the Fury’s inclusion next season.
“Our strategy is to invest in the growth of the sport, and expansion of the A-League into North Queensland is right for football,” Buckley said.
“It is a very important step for us at FFA, we have got a very ambitious expansion plan over the next two to three years.
“We believe we are creating one of the best national footprints for a sporting code in this country and I think importantly we now have the northern part of Australia represented and in particular North Queensland.”
Buckley sees the addition of the Fury as a stepping stone towards a 12 and possibly 14 team competition with discussions underway with a number consortia for entry into the 2010-11 competition.
“Expansion of the A-League is a critical issue to the continuing evolution and growth of football and this is a very exciting day for FFA,” Buckley said.
“We have already awarded a preferred bidder status in Melbourne, we are working with them over the next few months to try and bring that agreement to completion for their entry into the competition in season six.”
Buckley confirmed a number the A-League bids from NSW-based groups were under review.
“We have got and have received proposals from Canberra, from Wollongong, from the Western part of Sydney and Tasmania as well.”
“There is a lot of interest, there is a lot enthusiasm for additional A-League licenses and we hope to take advantage of that over the next months.”
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.