New A-League teams to launch in October

Two new clubs are set to join the A-League after the FFA announced Expressions of Interest are now open for submission and can move to the next step towards an A-League franchise.

Both potential and already existing football clubs need to prove they're able to compete in the 2019/20 season, when FFA is planning to introduce the new clubs into the A-League.

FFA has outlined four key factors which will outline the decision-making process in choosing two new A-League clubs.

Financial viability: FFA is seeking a detailed explanation of how bidders will finance their clubs, including evidence of resources and membership numbers.

Proposed location: FFA is looking for successful expansion candidates to have a well-established connection to, and understanding of, their local area.

Vision and strategy: Unique selling points, including media and fan engagement. Player pathways and youth development, including grassroots systems will also be important.

The fourth factor FFA cited involves the bidders' personal involvement, with key figures and stakeholders - popularly coined 'football-people' highly regarded.

CEO David Gallop said he was confident the next two A-League franchises wouldn't follow in the path of North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United. 

“We have done a lot of work on the fundamentals behind successful expansion of the Hyundai A-League and we are confident that we will receive some high quality bids as part of this process," Gallop said.

"But it’s important to remember that this is an interaction with the market and the market will have its own views.

“Australian sport has seen expansion produce both hits and misses over the last few decades as the competition for hearts and minds becomes more and more intense.

"In short, we are determined to be one of the hits."

The timeline for bid-submissions is as follows: