FFA to work on expanded A-League draw

And for FFA chiefs, who on Thursday announced the pair as successful bidders in the hotly-contested expansion battle, there's plenty to do to accommodate them.

The entry of Western Melbourne (WMG) next season presents an immediate challenge for A-League boss Greg O'Rourke.

WMG have a stadium; they'll play out of Geelong's Kardinia Park for their first three seasons as they build a football-specific venue near Werribee.

But the return to 11 teams, last experienced in the 2010/11 campaign, gives O'Rourke a fixturing dilemma.

"There will be the same amount of matches this weekend with the 11th team having the bye (but) do we start with a full home and away plus finals which is effectively 22 rounds or do we go all the way up to 30 rounds?," he said.

Macarthur South-West Sydney will enter the competition the following year, in 2020/21.

O'Rourke said it was "not a perfect outcome" for fixturing and broadcasting purposes but it allowed plenty of time to find the right answers.

"One of the advantages of the staged approach is that now we can enter full consultation about that sixth match, the time slot, the day, with the clubs and the PFA and our broadcasters," he said.

"There are many sports, including here in Australia, that don't have full home and away. It's a transitional step.

"Ultimately one of our goals is to go to 14 teams and then you have a balanced home and away potential."

While A-League clubs fought to delay the introduction of new clubs into the league, FFA won support for immediate expansion from its two most senior coaches; Tony Popovic and Kevin Muscat.

"It will bring a real buzz to the A-League for next year. Expansion was needed," Popovic said.

"Hopefully they can hit the ground running like the Wanderers did, and bring real interest into the game."

Muscat welcomed the competitive drive that a third Melbourne would bring.

"It's a good challenge for us to get even better, work harder, to make sure we're on top, to make sure we stay ahead," he said.

"So many positives. Another derby, another team in Melbourne, great."

Popovic said his Perth Glory side and other A-League teams would "deal with" the bye, putting his support behind more games rather than less.

"There's no magic number. If you ask a coach and players, we want more games," he said.

"When you think of the development of the players - young players need games. That's how we evolve and improve."

Australian Associated Press