A-League Expansion Bidders Kept In Dark Over FFA Decision

Would-be A-League bidders "remain in the dark" over the future of expansion, with Football Federation Australia's board "certain to put off a decision next week," according to Smithies & Kemp of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. With several members of the FFA board expected to stand down next month after "major changes to the governance of the sport were finally passed," it is being seen as "inconceivable that they could make a decision on which teams will join the competition, and when." With a new A-League working group in place to design a new model for the competition by the end of March, it is "increasingly seen as being likely that the choice of new teams will be delayed until the new year" -- almost "certainly putting back their introduction" until the '20-21 season. Though FFA’s management is expected to make a presentation on the eight short-listed bidders at Tuesday’s board meeting, anointing two for approval, a number of bids said that "they expect the decision to be delayed" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 10/11).