Football Federation Australia chief David Gallop has cautioned against rushing to extend the A-League with the future of at least three existing clubs still uncertain.
With attendances up and the Western Sydney Wanderers giving the league a bigger worldwide profile following their Asian Champions League success there’s a growing demand for a 12-team competition.
However, with Newcastle Jets still up for sale and the Central Coast Mariners struggling financially, Gallop is willing to wait.
“We need to have sustainability and financial viability across the 10-team competition and we don’t have a set time that we must expand by,” Gallop said.
“But we want to have more than 10 teams. We want to explore linking that with our next broadcast negotiation to maximise our value.
“But the welfare of our current teams and making sure they have their heads above water is part of the timing of expansion.”
Question marks also remain over the Wellington Phoenix’s future participation in the A-League with New Zealand not part of the Asian Football Confederation.
AFC officials in the past have expressed a level of discomfort at having a team from another confederation involved in a league from Asia.
Unlike the other nine clubs, the Phoenix’s licence was not extended by the FFA last year with their current deal expiring at the end of 2016.
Gallop said he was waiting to hear from Phoenix powerbrokers about their plans before a decision will be made.
“We’re talking again about the condition of the licence and the ball’s in their court,” he said.
“We’d like to know what their long-term strategy is.
“Let’s wait and see what their proposal looks like.”
Several regions have expressed interest in joining the A-League – a third Sydney team, a second Queensland side and Wollongong outfit all rumoured to be in contention.
Gallop remained tight-lipped about who’s in pole position but said lessons had been learned from the demise of North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United in 2011 and 2012.
“I’ve said before we want to fish where the fish are,” Gallop said.
“We have to be conscious of areas where there are millions of fans rather than just a few hundred thousand.
“That is not to discount any area. We’re currently doing some fresh research across a number of areas.
“I’ve met with a number of people.
“There’s always great enthusiasm … but like most codes in Australia, football has learnt some harsh lessons on expansion in the past.
“We need to hasten slowly to that 12-team competition.”
fiver
Guest
there will be a second Brisbane NRL team, don't worry about that. The NRL and channel 9 are both desperate for it.
Cozza
Guest
Wellington will not be in the League post 2016, not only are they outside Asia, but Sky NZ only pay the FFA A$180k per year for the TV rights, it is not enough to justify their place in the League.
Draino
Guest
How are they ever going to get a leg up if the AFC expects them to all run their own weak local competitions, with limited resources. If they were allowed to compete in the A League or another strong league than with the right future broadcast deal they might get a reasonable budget to run a team. Otherwise they will always be the never have beens instead of the could have beens
Jack
Guest
U would have to be from brisbane to understand why a derby wouldn't work. We don't have the market . Nrl had crushers and broncos and this is a rugby mad town. Completely flopped. U would basically has. Two teams playing in one stadium . I can't see a second team having an identity unless it's on GC. That's is a tough market as well.
Draino
Guest
You don't need to go to live sport, you just need to have a digital device to receive the telecast. You are so old fashioned!
Draino
Guest
The WSW would never have started if everyone in Sydney was expected to follow SFC. Your logic makes no sense. You don't have to support a club if the club no longer cares about its supporters. We want your membership but on our terms. No thanks! No new club would ever get off the ground if anyone who is so called loyal wasn't prepared to also help them. I'd rather help a new club form then support a club that has lost its way.
fiver
Guest
You are probably right, going to to live sport in summer is not the mindset of people in QLD, especially on the Gold Coast.
Waz
Guest
I agree on the Brisbane idea fiver - I just cant see it working, not yet at least. But I disagree on an Ipswich or GC based team - I really cant see them being anything other than problems - Canberra and Adelaide would be better choices over those two and a team in Sydney south over everything
Waz
Guest
thats a really short-sighted post imo. 12 teams is not a huge ask, the increased tv and game-day revenue will most likely flip 6 or 7 existing clubs in to profitability leaving only Phoenix and the Mariners in the red but even they wont look too bad IF the tv deal is big enough. So expansion is key to success, what they don't need to do is to repeat the mistakes of the past expansions or assume the success that is WSW will be repeated just because you open the doors on two new clubs!! Expansion sooner rather than later is a must!
Waz
Guest
I think thats a bit of tosh .. "the roar club is changing" ... fair weather fans that change allegiance because their club sacked its manager aren't really a sound foundation to build a new club on are they?? I cant see a Brisbane second club working - the Roar are fighting against 3 other codes, doing okay on the crowd front but its slow growth and they may hit 18k average this season if form improves but dropping another team in to a city that thinks of itself as "Brisbane" and not east/west or south will be hard. Ipswich is too small, Logan too, the Gold Coast isn't working out for any code so why try again? Next 2 imo need to be in Sydney and Canberra,then Melboure then bring Adelaide City up
Waz
Guest
The A league needs to be getting OUT of New Zealand all together not putting another team in there!!! The current TV rights in NZ are worth a paltry $200k per season, thats not enough to support one team let alone two. Time to pack up the Phoenix
Draino
Guest
The Roar club has changed, and some old roar supporters as well as others would be happy to support a new club to help get it off the ground. You don't have to support a club forever if you don't like the direction it is following.
Boban
Guest
The thing is, if NZ was to join the AFC, or the OFC and AFC merged, Auckland would suddenly surge to the front of the queue as far as new licence go. They are, after all, in a city of "millions", the proximity to Wellington would establish a rivalry with the Phoenix, and there could now be, in theory, a game broadcast out of NZ each round, which would jack up value of the TV rights.
JonD
Guest
Won't happen because of the AFC rules, but the next prime option for expansion should be Auckland. It's the biggest city in the region without a team in a major league.
fiver
Guest
I am from Brisbane and I don't really see the demand in Brisbane for another A-League team. What reason are people going to start following them over the Roar? An Ipswich based team could possibly work, otherwise bring back the Gold Coast.
Terry
Guest
drain - that sounds like a top idea ! That must be why the brisbane roar never gets decent crowds. They are not wearing maroon. Quick, tell the roar board. No way Brisbane should get another a league team. They are a one team town in all codes for good reason. Your figure of a population of 3 million includes the Gold Coast and we all know the support they gave their a league team! One game had less than 1000 people attend. We used to get more than that when we played our rival school when I was a kid.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I think we can afford to wait, we dont need to expand to 12 teams. We still have some clubs who have some issues, namely Newcastle, CCM and Wellington. The next tv deal you would imagine should help shore up these teams and it will give the FFA enough time to really think about their next direction strategically. Why dont we make the next tv deal for a shorter period, say 2-3 years.
jamesb
Guest
Looks like the A League will expand with a third Sydney team coming in, located in the Sutherland Shire. While a second Brisbane team is gathering momentum. The second Brisbane team could be located somewhere in between Logan City and Ipswich.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
Aside from NZ, name one Oceania country that has the infrastructure or the money to support an A-League team? Have you been to the Pacific? Everywhere is dirt poor!
Draino
Guest
I too think it is ridiculous to have a second team in Brisbane. After all south east QLD only has a popluation of over 3 million, and Suncorp Stadium is centrally located and easily accessible by free public transport on trains and buses on game day from any direction. Football doesn't compete with the Rugby or League seasons and tends to steer away from the alcohol fuelled controversies so it is appealing for families, and most crowds are well behaved. Local Derbies at least twice a year as well as other rivalries could make for an some interesting marketing opportunities. Play the new team in maroon colours and the whole state will be behind it.