FOOTBALL Federation Australia today revealed they have begun exclusive talks with a consortium to create a second Melbourne A-League side for the 2010/2011 season.

FFA CEO Ben Buckley said the consortium is led by Melbourne businessman and thoroughbred racehorse owner, Peter Sidwell.

The bid is understood to the provisionally-named Melbourne Heart side, with plans to play out of the redeveloped Olympic Park stadium.

“We received two very high quality proposals for the second Melbourne license, and we had very good discussions with both consortia,” said Buckley.

“We were very impressed with the professionalism and strength of both bids. The level of interest and quality of the proposals reflect the momentum behind the growth and development of the Hyundai A-League.”

The other proposal came from a consortium known as Southern Cross FC, which was linked with former NSL side, South Melbourne FC.

FFA will now accelerate discussions with the Sidwell-led consortium.

“We continue to be very encouraged with the level of interest in the Hyundai A-League,” Buckley said.



“The attractiveness of the competition is clearly reflected in the level of interest in the additional licenses and the quality of the bids we are receiving."

Buckley reiterated the FFA’s earlier view that, ultimately, the Hyundai A-League has the capacity to be at least a 12 team competition and possibly 14 teams.

He added: “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.”