In a landmark announcement, FFA and PM Julia Gillard announced the franchise would get the go-ahead next season.

It confirms the long-held wish by many to see a club in this football hotbed, even if there are only six months till the club kicks off their A-League life.

But Rudan stressed that if the club is not built from the community level up, it will fail.

And that community focus means embracing the so-called Old Football NSL clubs such as Marconi and Sydney United, who Rudan said would be key in helping the new outfit find a readymade supporter and junior player base.

“It’s vital. A lot of these former NSL clubs are disappointed in the way they’ve been treated in the past,” Rudan, who grew up in the west playing for Edensor Park club Sydney United for eight seasons from the 1990s, told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“They feel they’ve been detached from the new clubs. In order to get this right, these teams need to be embraced.

"Sit down with the leaders of all these different clubs in a round-table and get all football lovers involved and ask them, ‘How can we make this successful? How can we gain your help in order to make this franchise work?’

“It’s extremely important that we work in unison now and speak openly about how we can look after these clubs better. Because without their help it’s not going to be successful.”

Rudan underlined the importance of West Sydney to the A-League in light of Sydney FC’s overall disappointing crowds - despite a 40 percent increase this season - and efforts in the community.

“The boat may have sailed in terms of Sydney FC,” said the former Sky Blue favourite. "I personally don’t think they did enough to engage or get these sorts of clubs involved and be part of the club

“Engage the community, it’s as simple as that. West Sydney absolutely need to get out into the community. Get out there and really sell it and make them feel they are really part of the club.

"If that means having part-ownership of the club, that’s something I’ve been talking about for a while."

Rudan added that the six months lead in time wasn’t ideal but pointed to Wellington Phoenix as a club that came together in a similar time-frame.

“I’m an optimist," he said. "We’ve got six months so let’s get our heads down and nut this out and work together as time is of the essence. It’s going to be hard work though.”

Meanwhile, Socceroo skipper Lucas Neill - whose own bid for a second Sydney team was overlooked by the FFA in favour of the botched West Sydney Rovers - has issued his full support for the plans in western Sydney.

“I am delighted to see that the Hyundai A-League will expand into Western Sydney as I have always maintained that this is a fertile area for football expansion in Australia,” he said in a statement released on his own website.

“Although there will be challenges ahead I sincerely wish the franchise all the best for the upcoming season.

“Let us all hope that the team will be a success and add to the growing reputation of football in Australia, and provide Western Sydney with a worthy team to support.

“It's an exciting time for people in the area, as well as the league as a whole, so hopefully the fans will get behind the new team to help make it a success.”

Sydney FC have also issued their full support of West Sydney. In a statement the Sky Blues backed their rival club.

“A team from Western Sydney gives Sydney FC a real competitor and a true derby that can only be good for Sydney FC, the A-League and football in Sydney,” said Sydney FC Acting CEO Stefan Kamasz.

“We live in a city of five million people and we have always said there is room for two professional football teams.”

Sydney FC have already played a few games at Parramatta Stadium in both the A-League and ACL.

Rudan noted that the ground – also home to Parramatta Eels NRL club – was as an ideal base as it was a thriving area with great nightlife and restaurants, and an easily accessible train line together with the nearby M4 expressway.

But he believed that Penrith and Campbelltown stadiums could also be considered for select games in order to unite the west of Sydney behind their team.

The former defender, who now works as an analyst for Fox Sports Football, added: “They’ve only got one chance now to get this right. It’s not about talk, it’s about actions.

"But I’m absolutely excited. We’ve got to get behind this and getting it right.

“There are a lot of kids out there who aspire to be a Socceroo. Now there is a pathway and you only have to look at the national team over the years to see how many came from this part of the world.

“Having grown up in the area and playing for that club for half my life I understand how big it can be. The kids now have a dream.”