Celtic skipper Scott Brown has been touted as a potential marquee for the inaugural season of the new A-League outfit, who join the league next season.

But the Scottish Daily Record says the FFA has refused to allow Western Melbourne to dip into the governing body's marquee fund to help sign the 33-year-old Bhoys captain.

Western Melbourne says whether or not a Brown comes to the A-League, they’ll respect any marquee fund decisions from FFA.

“Whether or not a player qualifies for funding from FFA is up to FFA criteria, we respect whatever they deem fit,” Lou Sticca, one of the major players behind Western Melbourne, told FTBL.

“Western Melbourne is about recruiting foreign players that we feel will be important to our club in our formative seasons.

“What this means is setting the right leadership from our foreigners to help the team be successful on the park, but importantly in dressing rooms and at training, to help build a real football culture.

“Strong and experienced players that will protect our younger players and give them the confidence to express themselves."

The new A-League club is building its own purpose-built home stadium at Tarneit, promising to provide a real football atmosphere with fans close to the action. 

Before the venue opens, they'll play their home games in Geelong at Kardinia Park (pictured). 

Sticca, who brokered the deal to bring Alessandro Del Piero, Dwight Yorke, and Shinji Ono to the A-League in 2012, added that the foreign talent Western Melbourne will target will have a connection to the community of the West.

“We want to provide sectors of the football community that emigrated to the western suburbs of Melbourne with a player from their original homeland, one they can identify with.

“All in all, we hope to provide football fans with a real football experience, give them a chance to watch in real life players that they have followed overseas, while at the same time see young players grow in front of their eyes.

“Players that represent the ideals of the west and that will go on and represent our club and hopefully our country in years to come.”