More than 30 domestic clubs including powerhouses South Melbourne and controversy-plagued Sydney United 58 want to be part of Football Australia’s proposed national second-tier men’s competition.
The window for official expressions of interest closed on Monday with 32 clubs from across the country declaring their interest in joining what would ultimately be a 10 to 16-team competition.
One of the more interesting submissions was a joint bid between NRL club Cronulla and the Sutherland Sharks FC who play in the National Premier League.
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Victorian-based South Melbourne missed out on the A-League licence handed to Western United in 2018 and is considered one of the biggest domestic clubs in the country.
Sydney United 58 has been mired in controversy after spectators were banned and fined for making Nazi salutes during last year’s Australia Cup final.
Eight teams from Victoria, 10 from NSW and seven from Queensland dominate the list of clubs that formally expressed their interest.
The formulation of the second-tier competition remains the subject of ongoing discussions, but the prospect of promotion and relegation to the A-League for second-tier teams is only likely once it is “mature”.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said the second-tier competition could “realign” football competitions across the country.
“We underwent a lengthy consultation process last year, so we knew there would be great interest and we are thrilled with the level of interest shown in the EOI phase and the calibre of clubs which have expressed their interest,” he said.
“It is also pleasing to see that we have received submissions from right across Australia, demonstrating that our football clubs have a deep desire and aspiration to compete at a national level. The national second tier provides the perfect platform for them to do so.
“Australian football has undergone a journey of transformation over the last two years, and the establishment of a national second tier which reconnects and realigns Australian football competitions is an important element of Football Australia’s 15-year vision for the game.
“The receipt of EOI submissions is another crucial step in bringing our vision for the game to life.”
The next phase of the process will included clubs submitting more detailed proposals, with the hope the competition will be ready to begin in 2024.
FULL LIST OF CLUBS WANTING TO JOIN NATIONAL SECOND TIER COMPETITION
Australian Capital Territory
Canberra Croatia FC
Gungahlin United FC
New South Wales
APIA Leichhardt FC
Blacktown City FC
Fraser Park FC*
Marconi Stallions FC
Rockdale Ilinden FC
Sutherland Sharks FC/Cronulla Sharks
Sydney Olympic FC
Sydney United 58 FC
Wollongong Wolves FC
Valentine FC
Queensland
Brisbane City FC
Brisbane United FC (Wynnum Wolves FC, Brisbane Strikers FC, Virginia United FC)
Gold Coast Knights FC
Gold Coast United FC
Olympic FC
Peninsula Power FC
Sunshine Coast FC Fire
South Australia
Adelaide City FC
Football SA (Campbelltown City SC, North Eastern MetroStars, West Torrens Birkalla SC)
Playford City Soccer and Community Club
Tasmania
South Hobart FC
Victoria
Avondale FC
Bentleigh Greens SC
Brunswick Juventus FC
Green Gully SC
Heidelberg United FC
Melbourne Knights FC
Preston Lions FC
South Melbourne FC
Western Australia
Spearwood Dalmatinac / Cockburn City SC*
(* = subject to the submission fee payment being confirmed)