NRL joint venture, Melbourne powerhouse among 30-plus clubs applying for Aus second division

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.

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)