The "anticipated announcement of which teams will be admitted into an expanded A-League" is expected to be delayed until a new Football Federation Australia board "is put in place next month," according to Ray Gatt of THE AUSTRALIAN. The current board reportedly made the decision on Monday at its "penultimate meeting as the custodians of the sport in this country" and was expected to issue a statement. It leaves the eight expansion hopefuls "in the dark for at least another six weeks" and "heightens fears expansion could be put on the backburner" for another season. It is also understood that Monday's meeting was split, with some directors "wanting to go ahead with an announcement and others preferring to leave it to the incoming directors" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/16). In Sydney, Eamonn Tiernan reported a "delayed decision" would likely push entry into the league back a season to '20-21, but Canberra has "firmed" as one of the favorites. Canberra is "the only ready-to-go bid with with a stadium deal, government support, a commitment from members and links to overseas clubs already in place" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/16).
