Football journalist Daniel Garb says Football Federation Australia’s new timeline for the expansion of the A-League is big news for Australian football.
The FFA have today said that they are targeting the addition of two new franchises to the A-League for the 2019-2020 season, bringing the competition up to 12 teams, with an announcement of the successful bids to be made before the end of the year.
Garb believes the timeline is much needed to help steer the A-League towards a strong future.
“It’s welcome news, it’s big news,” the Fox Sports reporter told SEN Afternoons.
“We want to get up to 12 teams as soon as possible, 14 ideally, and hopefully one day promotion and relegation in Australian football.
“It’s promising news and we move forward in a positive direction in Australian football, which has been much needed over the last few months.”
Garb considers one of the three leading Victorian bids for a spot in the A-League are a good chance of being chosen by the FFA.
Of the three, Garb says the “Team 11” bid located in the south-east of Melbourne leads the way, with the South Melbourne and Geelong-based campaigns not too far behind.
“The strongest one at the moment is probably that Team 11 in that Dandenong corridor. That’s probably one you look at and think carries a lot of weight,” he said.
“South Melbourne would have to be in with a fight, it’s obviously the most discussed one because of their incredible history and all they’ve brought to Australian football.”
In addition, Garb believes a fourth team in New South Wales is also a leading contender, earmarking the Wollongong and Illawarra areas as a huge chance due to the strong football-following public in the region.
The journalist considers a renewed attempt at a second team in Queensland and a franchise in Tasmania will also be heavily discussed, but predicts they are more likely to be successful in a theoretical expansion to 14 teams, which he believes should occur as early as 2021.
Listen to the full podcast of today's SEN Afternoons with Brett Phillips below: