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Football Federation Australia (FFA) has announced that it has invited 10 bidders - from 15 formal submissions - to take part in the next stage of a process to expand the Hyundai A-League.

Intending to grant licences for two new clubs to join the A-League as of its 2019/20 season, the 10 bidders are drawn from greater Sydney, metropolitan Melbourne, south east Queensland and Canberra, with other high profile bids, including one from Tasmania, rejected.

FFA advised that it has analysed each of the bids with its lead advisers Deloitte against the criteria contained in the EOI documents with additional information sought from all parties.

Following that analysis, the FFA Board resolved to invite the following parties to take part in the next, more detailed bid phase:

• South West Sydney FC
• United for Macarthur (Sydney)
• Southern Expansion (Sydney region)
• Team 11 (Melbourne)
• South Melbourne FC
• Western Melbourne Group
• Brisbane City FC
• Ipswich Pride FC
• Canberra & Capital Region
• Wollongong

FFA advised that the “ultimate aim of the process is to identify two bids with the strongest potential for establishing clubs with long term sustainability while also growing the commercial attraction and popular support for the existing Hyundai A-League clubs and the League as a whole.”

FFA Chief Executive David Gallop said the process remained highly competitive, commenting "FFA's job is to get the best outcome for the Hyundai A-League and football as a whole.

"That means granting licences that will complement the existing Hyundai A-League clubs, link back into fans and the football history in their local community, help to develop football pathways for more players, increase interest from sponsors and broadcasters, have solid financial backing and operate sustainably.

"Expansion has created enormous interest and attracted 15 groups to come forward from around the country. Once we get these two new clubs established for the season after next we intend to add more clubs in future years."

The next bid phase will commence in July and will see the invited parties given access to a range of A-League data and the the opportunity to ask additional questions and engage with FFA and Deloitte.

Final binding bids are due by 31st August will the announcement of the new licences planned to be made by 31st October 2018.

Bids from teams to have been based on the Gold Coast, West Adelaide and Fremantle as well as a Melbourne bid from Belgravia Leisure were also rejected.

Images: Concepts for Team 11's proposed Dandenong Stadium (top, courtesy of Cox Architecture) and Wollongong Wolves (below, courtesy Football NSW)..

2nd June 2018 - WESTERN MELBOURNE A-LEAGUE BID TEAM REVEALS BOUTIQUE STADIUM PLANS 

14th May 2018 - CITY OF CASEY BACKS FOOTBALL FACILITIES FOR TEAM 11 CONSORTIUM

4th May 2018 - SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE A-LEAGUE BID GROUP ANNOUNCES AMBITIOUS DANDENONG STADIUM PLANS

26th April 2018 - POOR ATTENDANCES SEES FFA LOWER COST OF A-LEAGUE FINALS TICKETS

30th March 2018 - CLUBS UNHAPPY AT LACK OF FFA CONSULTATION OVER A-LEAGUE EXPANSION PLANS

29th March 2018 - FFA MOVES TO ADD TWO NEW CLUBS TO A-LEAGUE COMPETITION 

7th March 2018 - EUROPEAN INVESTORS BUY A-LEAGUE’S ADELAIDE UNITED 

21st February 2018 - A-LEAGUE CLUBS WARN OF COMPETITION COLLAPSE 

19th February 2018 - FFA LOOKS FOR A-LEAGUE EXPANSION IN 2019/20 SEASON 

30th September 2017 - NEW FFA WEBSITES AIM TO ENGAGE FOOTBALL FANS AND PLAYERS

13th January 2017 - LOW SPORT PARTICIPATION IN MELBOURNE’S GROWTH SUBURBS

30th October 2015 - FFA ANNOUNCES MAJOR CHANGES IN DIGITAL AND FAN ENGAGEMENT 

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Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.