FFA urged to stick to expansion timeline as bidders await fate

Expectant bidders are imploring Football Federation Australia to stick to their stated timetable for expansion when the board meet in Sydney on Tuesday, with the two successful clubs due to be announced at the end of the month.

Concerns are growing that the governance revolution that has shaken up the game’s leadership will result in an outgoing FFA board passing the expansion buck onto a new board, due to be elected in mid-November.

And the eight bidders are on tenterhooks as they await their fate, still hopeful that two of them will be admitted for the 2019-2020 season while also worried that the clock is ticking and the need for clarity is urgent.

The bidders have spent a combined total of around $6 million on preparing their submissions on the understanding that October 31 would be D-day.

One of the leading contenders, the Western Melbourne Group, have enunciated their case for the existing FFA board, and its outgoing chairman Steven Lowy, to remain steadfast and execute the process that has been set in train.

“I hope the FFA make a decision regarding expansion this week, delaying an announcement for a few more months will make it really difficult for the winning clubs to be ready for 2019-2020,” former Socceroo and WMG spokesman Steve Horvat said.

“From our perspective, we are ready to go now. We have already identified a marquee player, we’ve already got coaching candidates shortlisted and we are ready to roll.

“We’ve spent multiples of six figures on our bid already. I can only imagine what the other bids have also spent.

“So cumulatively this process has cost interested parties millions of dollars and we will work to the timelines that have been put out by the FFA.

“We are hopeful FFA will follow through and from our bid’s viewpoint, if we were fortunate enough to be admitted, we can start rolling out our plans for the football department and everything else that needs to be done.”

The existing A-League clubs share the vision for expansion and acknowledge the 10-team format has become staid and stale.

There is no doubt that a new board elected by the now established 27-strong Congress would ratify expansion, probably adding a further two teams in quick succession.

However, with consulting and risk management experts Deloittes having already made their recommendations to the FFA on the preferred candidates, the feeling is that the FFA should have no abiding reason to delay an announcement.

The eight at the starter’s gate are Macarthur South West Sydney, Southern Expansion, Wollongong Wolves, Team 11 (South-East Melbourne), South Melbourne FC, WMG, Ipswich and Canberra.

A-League boss Greg O’Rourke, who has been immersed in sifting through the bids, is advocating for the existing board to stick to the agreed time frames.

“The expansion (date) is going to continue on exactly as planned,” O’Rourke said earlier this month.

“Regardless of the (FFA) board’s composition, we still have to finish all of this work.

“It is our intent to continue on this timeline.”