There was no announcement from Football Federation Australia on A-League expansion on Wednesday, "much to the frustration of football fans around the country," according to Bossi & Lynch of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The six remaining bids hoping to gain entrance into the A-League were "left facing a nervous wait" as FFA’s board deliberated over A-League expansion but "hinted only at a potential further delay on an announcement." However, it would not likely be one that would hold back plans "for two new teams to enter as early as next season." It is understood a "strong push" took place inside the board room to progress with the competition’s growth, adding a minimum of two new teams at the "earliest possible opportunity," with an announcement set for midday on Thursday. It comes a week after FFA senior management "highlighted a lack of urgency for a decision," suggesting the expansion process could even be concluded as late as January. Privately, sources close to the new FFA board "expressed their desire to resolve the matter immediately while holding back their announcement for a press conference on Thursday." Sources suggest that, dependent on permutations, Macarthur-South West Sydney, Canberra, West Melbourne and Team 11 are "in the box seat" for licenses. No outcome was left off the table at Wednesday's marathon board meeting, whether it be the number of licenses issued, the schedule of expansion, conditions of entry such as stadia and the "financial windfall delivered from the process" (SMH, 12/12).
