The Southern Sydney bid has the financial backing of property giant, the JiaYuan Group from Zhejiang, China and joining Foster and Murray is former Chief Executive of the NSW PCYC, Chris Gardiner.

In 2008, Murray was part of the Southern Cross bid that failed to join the A-League but as Chairman of the Steering Group the 71-year-old said Southern Sydney’s past makes it an ideal expansion candidate.

“This is a very exciting day in Australian football,” he said.  “What we have in mind is to bring best quality professional football to a vast, diverse region full of football tradition and history.

“We note and understand the FFA's preferred timing on expansion. We are not impatient and are content to wait until expansion is given the go ahead. But when it does, we will be ready. We are also confident that a club from our vast market of fans and players will heavily benefit the existing A -League and W League clubs in the transition process.”

Current SBS analyst and former Socceroo, Craig Foster is the Steering Group's Head of football and said the club will be heavily focused on youth development.

“Engagement with our grass roots partners is at the heart of the club,” he said.

“Parents will be pleased to know that in this club, females and males are equal, and our Academy will include both girls and boys from the beginning at no cost to the players and the region’s juniors will have a direct pathway to their own A-League and W-League teams.

“Our shared vision is to become the strongest football region in the country in every aspect, administration, infrastructure, development and professional success.”

Chris Gardiner the bid's Chief Executive said along with the three associations, local football fans and the wider community would help shape the identity of the club and seek feedback on potential names and colours.

Gardiner also said the Steering Group provided the FFA with a bank guarantee to underwrite the bid via Chinese property giant JiaYuan and that inter-city rivalries would be a key strength of the new club.

“A Southern team will provide six more A-League derbies and four more W-League derbies each season,” he said.

“Our new club means players in the three local football associations finally have their own local A-League and W-League teams after not having a presence in the top flight since the NSL.

“Matches will be shared equally between our three partner associations with plans for a purpose built football stadium underway for the longer term. This will deliver approximately eight professional games in each area so that everyone has an opportunity to see Southern play.

“We believe we are in a unique position to be granted a provisional licence to field teams in season 2018-19. Should the opportunity arise, however, we would be delighted to enter W-League and National Youth League teams in the coming 2017/18 season ahead of A-League next year.”