The AAFC proposed the division be aligned with the A-League in 2019/20 with the intention of promotion/relegation in the future. 

The target for pro/rel is for five years later, so for the 2024/25 A-League season. 

An AAFC statement read: "Participating clubs will be required to have a boutique stadium with capacity for 3,000 people as well as a capacity to meet an annual budget of $2.5 million, which includes an annual license fee of $150,000.
 
"The AAFC places a heavy emphasis on promoting young, local talent with at least half of the 20-person squad to be aged 25 or under, and a maximum of two visa players drawn from either the Asian or Oceania football confederations.
 
"AAFC also intends seeking agreement from the AFC for the winner of The Championship to be granted a place in the Asian Champions League."

Chairman Rabieh Krayem said that the AAFC believes a national second division is necessary for three reasons.
 
“First, we need it from a football perspective. The best way to improve the quality of football and our international competitiveness is to give young players more, and higher standard, game time.
 
“Second, as a football nation, we’re not fulfilling the membership requirements of either FIFA or the Asian Football Confederation by not having promotion and relegation in place. A national second division is a pre-requisite of that.
 
“Third, we believe it’s necessary to have this extra level of national competition in place to help bring life back into the football ‘market’, increase interest and attract investment,” Krayem said.