Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop has hinted that the two new A-League expansion clubs could be situated in Melbourne and Sydney.
Gallop explained why the cities were such attractive candidates to become the 11th and 12th licences for the 2019/2020 A-League season.
“There’s three bids in Melbourne, two in Sydney, and obviously there’s an attraction to being in the big metropolitan cities, where the grassroots participants are in huge numbers and you have got established pathways,” Gallop told SEN Breakfast.
“That kind of thing is a big factor in favour of going into Melbourne and Sydney.”
Due to the bitter congress dispute involving the FFA, A-League clubs, and State Member Federations, Gallop revealed the announcement of the successful expansion bids could be pushed back from the initial date of October 31.
“It hasn’t been delayed at this point, but it’s getting looked at by the board next week,” Gallop said.
“Given what has happened in the board room and the changes they are going to come in the next few weeks, it has certainly made it complicated whether they can make an actual announcement in the timeframe that was originally in place.
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“If it does mean we have to look at it again in a few months time, that would be disappointing, but it would also be understandable.”
The 2018/19 A-League season gets underway next Friday night when Adelaide United entertain Sydney FC.
Listen to David Gallop’s chat on SEN Breakfast with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson in the player below