Regan made close to 100 appearances in the A-League for the Newcastle Jets and Adelaide United.

Now playing in Malaysia for Selangor, the defender still keeps a close eye on Australian football and the A-League.

The 31-year-old has watched problems fester in the competition for a while and feels improving the atmosphere at games and empowering the old clubs of the National Soccer League (NSL) should be the way forward.

"I think a lot of clubs need to have a boutique stadium," Regan told FTBL.

"Brisbane Roar playing at Suncorp Stadium looks ridiculous on TV and playing there as well. Obviously when Brisbane Roar were doing really well it's a different story. But I feel like the games that played at Redcliffe looked amazing, for TV and for the people that were there.

"And that's one of the things I really, really liked in my two years at Adelaide. The atmosphere at Coopers Stadium is the best in the A-League and it only holds 15,000 people.

"Over here in Malaysia we have the big teams like Johor and Selangor, Perak and Pahang and Kedah where you get these big fans and big numbers in big stadiums. But you also get games in 50,000 seat stadiums with 5,000 people.

"That's what I think is the biggest issue with the A-League right now is we need more boutqiue stadiums. But, unfortunately, clubs are at the end of the day a business and they need to generate revenue and they need these big stadiums as well.

"I would love to see more boutique stadiums for the likes of Brisbane Roar. They can have a boutique stadium and then at the end of the season if they're in the semi-finals and they can fill the boutique stadium out, then by all means move to Suncorp.

"But first and foremost we need to create that atmosphere that the kids and the cities can fall in love with. That's been lost.

"Secondly, I understand the FFA's decision with the old NSL and the ethnicity and the ideas to try and take ourselves away from those cultural teams. But I honestly believe we need to bring that back.

"I see the old videos of a Sydney United or a Sydney Olympic or a South Melbourne and that's passion. They're European supporters and they understand football and they understand the atmosphere.

"We're neglecting a large portion of the football community by pushing these teams into the NPL and leaving them stagnant."

Regan debuted in the A-League with the Jets in 2010 and captained by how his hometown club and the Reds.

Financial pressure is growing on the A-League with it postponed because of the Coronavirus.

The centre back admits it is "scary times" for the competition right now.

"I've still got plenty of mates in the A-League and plenty of administrative people I speak with, both at the PFA and at clubs. It's scary times," he said.

"The viewing numbers in terms of who watches the games on TV hasn't been great for quite some time now. I think every fan was aware of that, that the competition has gone a little bit stale in some regards.

"Foxtel were obviously obligated to their contract but now with this situation there may be a loophole where they can get out, which makes everything scary because A-League clubs rely so heavily on that TV revenue.

"Without it, many clubs are unable to pay their salaries and meet their contractual demands. So what's next for the A-League will be interesting.

"If Foxtel do pull out, it's scary times but it opens the doors to other people to come in and save the competition - and I hope it gets saved. We've come so far from 2005 when the first season was.

"You build the competition up, you see the Sydney FCs and Melbourne Victorys who have become dominant forces, not just in Australian sport but they have a good reputation all around Asia. It would be a shame for these teams to be lost."