Harry Kewell, who had 15 years playing in Europe, as well as spells with Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart, believes Australia’s premier competition needs promotion and relegation.

The A-League is one of only two football leagues in the world, the other being America’s Major League Soccer, without advancement between divisions.

The Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC) and National Premier League sides, as well sections of the Australian football community, are advocating the introduction of a national second division as a step towards the creation of promotion and relegation.

Kewell, now manager of English League Two side Crawley Town after leaving his role as Watford Under-23s coach, believes bringing in promotion and relegation will be extremely beneficial for the development of local players.

With few Australians now playing in Europe's top leagues, the former Leeds United and Liverpool star told FourFourTwo that the pressure of relegation will help prepare players to succeed when they go overseas.

“That’s the one thing with Australian players, they fail because they play in the A-League, and the A-League is a good league, but when they come over here this is life and death,” he said.

“This is your life. That’s the one thing that the A-League needs to look at because when you’re fighting for something you give that extra more.

“When you know that nothing happens, it doesn’t matter, we’ll go next year, then you’re wasting it.

“You’ve got to give everything, for every game, because every game could be your last game."