Expansion of the A-League for next season "is back on the agenda, as hopes rise" that the new board of Football Federation Australia will "give the green light for two new teams to start in October," according to Smithies & Kemp of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. As the 11 candidates for election to FFA’s board "jostle for position ahead of Monday’s deciding annual general meeting," A-League management has made "substantial steps forward in compiling a shortlist of bidders" it believes would be "ready to launch for next season." Once the new FFA board is elected on Monday, a recommendation for preferred bidders will be presented to it "as soon as possible afterwards" -- plus the "strong suggestion that the new teams should be introduced next season." The selections will come from six remaining bidders that have "made it this far:" the two Sydney-based consortiums, Southern Expansion and Macarthur South West Sydney (NSW), three from Victoria including Western Melbourne, Team 11 and South Melbourne, plus Canberra. It "remains unclear whether the new board will meet immediately or take its time" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 11/15).
