Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy says it’s only a matter of time until the A-League expands to a 12-team competition and adopts a system of promotion and relegation.
The 84-year-old flagged the changes in a television interview aired on Wednesday.
In particular, he said the introduction of a multi-tier model was all but inevitable.
“I think we should take that into consideration because eventually we will have to have promotion and relegation,” Lowy told Fox Sports.
“In my estimation, we will be made to do that.”
Lowy said the FFA was being encouraged by the sport’s governing bodies to expand the competition.
But the shopping centre mogul said they understood the process would take time and weren’t pressing too hard.
“They know that we have started, it will take time,” he said.
“Nobody’s pressing us at the moment except ourselves.”
He said Australia and the United States are the only two countries in the world who do not employ a promotion and relegation structure.
Two more teams should also be introduced by the time the current broadcast deal is replaced following the 2016/17 season, Lowy said.
From there he said a 14-team competition could also be on the cards.
“That process is already underway,” Lowy explained.
“Research is being made where and when should a new team be established throughout Australia.”
Wollongong, Canberra, Cairns and south-west Brisbane have all been touted as potential homelands for new A-League clubs.
Lowy has previously predicted the sport’s popularity would double, if not triple, in the next decade.
The chairman – who has seen the Socceroos qualify for three consecutive World Cup finals during his tenure – will step down in November 2015.
JR Salazar
Guest
I don't think Canada has promotion and relegation either.
albatross
Roar Pro
To you and Liam (below) - the turn out at that game was terrific. But you have to remember that the population of Tas is just 515k (about the same as Blacktown and Fairfield cities combined), widely dispersed and a larger proportion than in other states of whom can be classified as low income. Added to that there is the issue of where they would play. Despite the prescience of the ABC series "Utopia" I can't see anyone building stadiums in Hobart and Launo. And Ross doesn't quite cut it. So it's not going to happen soon
Bondy
Guest
AR Ok, I've just never read here that you've actually enjoyed an A League game but as we know everybodys free to post ..
Kavvy
Guest
Japan has 127 Million ppl and the US has 300 Million ppl. We are in the low 20s. Much easier to expand when you have the people to expand it to. It can happen but needs more time here than the countries your comparing to due to vastly different population bases
Alicesprings
Guest
Who replaces Lowy when he goes?? Will be an interesting time for the sport.
Adrian none
Roar Rookie
Major League Baseball 74,026,895 Nippon Professional Baseball 22,047,491 National Basketball Association 21,411,543 National Football League 17,372,838 Premier League 13,942,459 National Hockey League 12,758,849 La Liga 10,146,760 Football League Championship 9,138,360 Serie A 8,886,213 Primera División Argentina 8,016,797 Ligue 1 7,975,444 Korea Professional Baseball 7,156,157 Liga MX 7,121,882 Australian Football League 6,926,380 Pacific Coast League (AAA) 6,796,157 International League (AAA) 6,504,586 American Hockey League 6,509,893 Major League Soccer 6,128,404 Eredivisie 5,984,484 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_attendance_figures_at_domestic_professional_sports_leagues
Adrian none
Roar Rookie
"Attendances ain’t the only criteria to becoming the biggest." there a clear and strong correlation between average game attendance and TV deals " but they are far from the biggest football competition in the world" the NFL is the biggest football competition (league) in the world...
Adrian none
Roar Rookie
Fussball, you are wrong, people assumed those in charge are clueless all over the world :) :) but your right...people talk of there plain for A-league and talk about where the next team should be , base on no knowledgeable facts
H.E. Pennypacker
Guest
So, the AFC and FIFA are 'making' Australia do promotion and relegation, but Saudi Arabia that beacon of light for freedom is allowed to compete in international competition? The world has gone mad.
Adrian none
Roar Rookie
i think , there will be no promotion and relegation in next 20 years 1st , a 2nd pro league will need to be set up 2nd, they put a rule in that says "eligible for promotion to the A League , provided the team had met certain criteria. Frank has to say there will be promotion and relegation, because that what AFC wants ...the AFC Competitions Committee penalize Australia for not having a 2nd league...what we get, a new 2nd league :)
Socrates
Guest
I agree
AR
Guest
Bondy, I reckon I attend as much live sport as anyone. And I post on whatever interests me...and occasionally that involves pointing out hypocrisy. But equally, it seems the only time I hear from you is when you rush in to defend Fussball's honour.
JonJax
Guest
+ 2
AR
Guest
Fuss 1) Bullies done get to cry 'victim'. 2) I'm not commenting on *who* you are, I'm commenting on *what* you write.
Bondy
Guest
AR Do you watch or attend the sport at all or do you just track Fussball ist unser lebens posts ?. I dont say this facetiously but I've " never " seen you write about an enjoyable or boring match you've either attended or watched .
liam
Guest
I think its great and look forward to it, but as a Tasmania i feel cut off from the A-League so it wuld be great it there could be a team from Tassie in the A-League
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Franko I come to this discussion to explore how people think we'll implement the various points Frank Lowy has articulated. If people want to refute Frank's view of the future AUS football market they need to provide compelling arguments to convince other readers that "Frank Lowy is talking nonsense, and posters on The Roar have a far better view of how football will evolve".
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Too early. Same with Perth. Once the league expands beyond 14/16 teams and there is correlating growth in revenue streams then more strident arguments will be made for a second team in Adelaide and Perth, especially with the benefits that second teams bring to the existing clubs. At this stage though there are untapped markets that offer greater potential returns and lower risk.
Senator RY
Guest
Thoughts on a second South Australian team?
rmc
Guest
huh?! There are real people all over the GC... you just need real leadership with a real vision to unite this region, just like what happened in Western Sydney. Weekend soccer was big in GC when I was growing up (prob because of soccer moms) but schools didn't support it due to the parochial league/union culture, so a lot of kids ended up playing and supporting the other codes. Hatred of Brisbane? A lot of good people end up leaving GC for Brisbane for study, jobs and opportunity and some regularly come home to GC on weekends. I don''t see your argument there but I sense a culture clash of Ipswich/Logan vs Inner Brisbane similar to WSW vs ESFC.