Former Australia coach Ange Postecoglou has challenged the new Football Federation Board to be bold and finally make the call to expand the A-League.
There are widespread fears the FFA could on Thursday announce a delay in recommending which teams could be added to the league after this season. Postecoglou has distanced himself from Australian football since sensationally quitting as national coach one year ago, but has touted the need for expansion.
"It'll come down to the people that are in charge to hopefully take some bold steps that the game requires," Postecoglou told AAP.
The governing body met late on Wednesday to decide on two franchise bids, from a shortlist of six, that could be introduced as soon as next season. Postecoglou has strong ties to one of the bids in South Melbourne, the former National Soccer League club where he won four trophies as player and coach. He said expansion couldn't happen quick enough.
"It was in my book three years ago," he said. "It should've happened then, and hopefully it happens now."
His comments come just two weeks before the Socceroos name their squad to defend their maiden Asian Cup trophy won under Postecoglou in 2015. And while their playing style has undergone a major overhaul since his departure, Postecoglou is predicting success in the United Arab Emirates.
Australia's chances of defending their crown has seemingly taken a major hit with possible injuries to key players Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic.
"For a lot of the players now, this group of players have been through a couple of World Cups, an Asian Cup," Postecoglou said. "I'm sure they're all looking forward to it.
"We've done well in the big competitions. I'm hopeful we'll have a good performance at this one and hopefully we win it, and go back-to-back."
Speaking at a book launch promoting Australia's footballing links with Asia, Postecoglou said the nation still hadn't fully grasped its ties to the Asian continent.
"Particularly in the last year of the World Cup campaign, I travelled to every part far and wide, and Asia is not like Europe," he said. "It's vastness and uniqueness in each country needs to be addressed separately.
"It's not about engagement with Asia. It's about engagement with specific countries and their nuances and what they believe in."