Both codes are anxious to expand into the area but Buckley denies that special emphasis is being put on adding a team from that area to the A-League.

Buckley, once part of the management hierarchy at the AFL, told the Sydney Morning Herald: "The western part of Sydney is important for building the game and football right across the country.

"It's not a race. We've never said it was a race.

"The west of Sydney has a very large participation base for football, it has a lot of outstanding talent for the game and there's a strong demand for the game there.

"We believe it's a natural outcome to have a team based there over time."

The FFA has received two expressions of interest for a western Sydney team of the eight being mulled over to eventually increase the A-League to an eventual 12-club competition.

Melbourne, Wollongong and Townsville are also being considered as possible new bases for an A-League franchise.