A Pacific Islands team could be a shock inclusion when the A-League eventually expands to 12 teams.
Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy today publicly encouraged the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) to investigate an A-League franchise, saying they would be welcomed into the competition.
Lowy met with OFC representatives on Saturday to discuss the prospect.
“I think it would be very good for the A-League,” Lowy said.
“There are 11 million people in Oceania and if we can attract a team from the islands to play in the A-League we can attract another 10 or 11 million viewers.
“I invited the Oceania Confederation to create a team of all the islands and if they do that, we will be able to accommodate them in the A-League and they certainly seemed very interested in that.”
With teams already on the way from the Gold Coast and Townsville, should an Oceania team get off the ground in a 12-team competition, it would mean the squeeze would be on for the remaining spot.
Extra teams in Sydney and Melbourne are being considered, while Wollongong, Canberra and Geelong have also been mooted as possible homes for A-League franchises.
Paramount to the Oceania A-League offer is believed to be the OFC offering its vote for Australia in any 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids.
Australia left the OFC in 2006 to link with the Asian Football Confederation, but OFC member New Zealand already has an A-League presence through the Wellington Phoenix.
Meanwhile, billionaire iron ore magnate Clive Palmer has emerged as the possible new backer for a Gold Coast franchise.
It is understood Palmer – Australia’s fourth richest man – has met with the FFA, who may be swayed into offering him the franchise rather than Gold Coast Galaxy, backed by property developer Fred Taplin.
The jockeying for position for the Gold Coast franchise is expected to hot up with further talks between interested parties expected early this week.
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