NQFC given the nod
24/07/2008 5:37 PM
A Townsville-based franchise has been granted provisional admission into an expanded A-League for the 2009-10 season.
Football Federation Australia granted the North Queensland Footballl Club exclusive negotiating status as it readies for admission into the country's top-flight football competition.
The current eight-team league will swell to 10 - Townsville joining the Gold Coast Football Club - if both clubs can meet a range of criteria laid out by FFA.
FFA boss Ben Buckley advised the head of the NQFC bid, Don Matheson, of the decision on Thursday.
Matheson's consortium edged out a bid for the Townsville licence spearheaded by Melbourne businesswoman Milissa Fischer.
"The level of interest in the Townsville region reflects the momentum behind the growth and development of the Hyundai A-League, as well as the strength of the North Queensland region," Buckley said.
He said NQFC - which will play its home games at Dairy Farmers Stadium - has one month to finalise its submission to FFA.
Buckley reiterated plans for the A-League to expand to 12 teams.
"When and where we expand the competition is measured simply by whether it is right for football, right for the existing Hyundai A-League clubs, right for the new clubs and right for the local community," Buckley said.
"In the meantime, we look forward to NQFC entering the competition in 2009."