(Reuters) – Football Australia said on Friday is has formally begun the process of creating a second-tier men’s competition with a potential start date in March 2024.
The competition will act as a new tier between the A-League and National Premier League. Promotion and relegation between the A-League and the new competition would be considered once the structure matures, the governing body said in a statement.
The competition will feature 10 to 16 teams and operate on a home-and-away format with finals.
The governing body has invited interested parties to respond to an invitation for Expression of Interest.
“Developing a national second-tier competition is a key component of our 15-year vision for the game and our efforts to reconnect and realign Australian football competitions,” said Chief Executive Officer James Johnson.
(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
