Football Federation Australia’s Board has put expansion of the Hyundai A-League and a resolution to the game’s long-running Congress evolution debate at the top of its agenda for 2018 following a day-long strategy meeting in Sydney yesterday.

The Board also focussed on its priorities of football development initiatives, the Westfield W-League, preparations for the Westfield Matildas’ campaigns in the Algarve Cup and the AFC Asian Cup in April, and on the Caltex Socceroos preparations for the FIFA World Cup in Russia in June and the AFC Asian Cup in January next year.

FFA’s directors have targeted the 2019-20 season as the start date for two new clubs.More details about the formal process will be announced next month with the intention to have a decision later this year.The Board also agreed in principle to create a new corporate framework for the A-League/W-League which could give clubs more input over the running of the league and potentially provide new investment opportunities for existing and new clubs.It is an important step towards a new operating model, on which FFA management has been working for more than a year.

The existing Hyundai A-League/Westfield W-League clubs and FFA’s Member Federations will be invited to participate in discussions regarding the formation of the framework.In response to a general trend in sport to lower attendances and television audiences, which has been reflected in A-League metrics this season, FFA will collaborate with the A-League clubs and broadcasters FOX SPORTS and Network Ten on a fresh approach to marketing the league, in particular around the start of next season.

The Board re-affirmed its support for the principle of an expanded Congress to enable broader representation within the game and significantly improve gender equality, while balancing the interests of each group.FFA's initiative in establishing a Congress Review Working Group with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), will create a forum for voices across the whole of the game to be heard in this important step in the evolution of football in Australia.

Officials from FIFA and the AFC will join with FFA in Sydney from 20-22 February to meet with representatives from a range of interest groups within the football community including Member Federations, Hyundai A-League/Westfield W-League clubs, Professional Footballers Australia, the Association of Australian Football Clubs, women’s football, referees, coaches and fans.

FIFA has defined the purpose of the Sydney meetings as follows:

1. To meet with the stakeholders (Member Federations, A-League clubs, PFA) and any other relevant interlocutors, such as the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC), that have been established in the meantime.

2. Based on the feedback received, to define the terms of reference of the Congress review working group, which include its objective, composition, mandate and timeline


https://www.a-league.com.au/news/ffa-puts-hyundai-a-league-expansion-congress-resolution-top-2018-agenda

I reckon they've already chosen the 2 teams.

They have "announced" what they intend to do. Well, that just seems the exact same thing we've heard for the last year. But now it's being "announced".

Why only two ... there has been plenty of interest, why not at least go for 4 teams (still a season and a half before it kicks off, so plenty of time)??

Absolutely they have. And when they come out with their criteria, the wording will be very vague and open to interpretation, and the FFAs is the only interpretation that will count.

FTFY 

Personally I’m not sure there’s enough eGamers out there to support expansion

FFA's initiative in establishing a Congress Review Working Group

South Sydney Orientals & Brisbane Basketcase 2.0 - lock it in Eddie

FOX are only paying for 2

If Wollongong aren't one of the teams I will be furious.

So Wellington is safe then, good news.

Unless out of the 10 bids we know of, 3 of them look good. Then the "+" in 4+3+3 becomes your worst nightmare.

Only two teams and still to far away for my liking

Was never going to be more than 2 new teams, unless someone hits the nuclear option (which seems less and less likely)

You have no chance, and in all likelyhood the spots have already been decided, the ffa will try make it look lile a compelling process, throwing breadcrumbs at the masses every now and again to make it look like things are all rosey. Ultimately its nothing more then a bandaid solution.

Pretty sure it will be south sydney and brisbane (whatever they call themselves). No such thing as a bidding process.

With the current arrangements it costs the FFA's budget about $5m per club to expand.  They don't have that money at the moment and even with the extra $6m that is in the broadcast agreement for expansion they will still fall short.  Hopefully a rework of the arrangements will bring in extra investment and not only cover the shortfall for 2 teams but pay for 4 teams,

People still complaining unbelievable

It will be southern sydney and brisbane. Whilst i am not keen on a team in southern sydney their bid sounds impressive

Until it happens im not holding my breath.
But at least a timeline has been set.

Wasn't the franchise model 'broken' so we couldn't expand?
Whats changed in 12 months?

This is something to celebrate. The two teams that come in will be from really strong bids, potentially giving the competition the same shot in the arm that the Wanderers did. Of course we want 16 teams (I'd prefer 18 for a 34 round season; the absolute shortest a football league season should be), and a second division, but at least things are beginning to move in the right direction. Keep pushing for further expansion, and I'm sure we'll see more bids that will do exactly that.

For me, the next on the agenda is absolutely a second division with promotion and relegation, which means we probably need to look at a "30 team" A-League model for the future (16 in the top division and 14 in the bottom).

This is a positive step though. Let's keep making some noise!

The FFA spent $20m on consultancy fees. Even if they just halved that and started doing some of their own work, that would comfortably cover two new teams.

I think they are wanting the replacement model sorted out this year so they can ask for bids by the end of the year.

Cover the scratch with a band aid. 

In the article

Greg's got a new shiny model

OK, peoples.

12 teams.

How many rounds?

Surely it has to be 33+finals.

They can't be that stupid to keep it a 27 round league.

I don't think that is a certainty. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the chosen clubs are from weaker bids. My prediction is that the two clubs will almost definitely be brand new clubs. The FFA will make a conscience effort to craft the criteria in a way that gives existing clubs like South Melbourne and Wollongong Wolves a much tougher chance of being selected.