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Frank Lowy voices A-League doubt
Thursday 18th June, 2009 at 4:00AM
South Coast A-League expansion bid chairman Eddy De Gabriele says he is not concerned after FFA supremo Frank Lowy raised doubts the A-League could sustain 14 teams.
The A-League will expand from eight to 10 teams this year and is likely to add two more in 2010-11.
A second Victorian franchise, Melbourne Heart, has been assured of the 11th spot, while three Sydney bids, the South Coast, Tasmania and Canberra bids are also in contention for the 12th spot.
Lowy said the FFA needed to ensure teams added to the league were financially viable and raised doubts over its ability to move to 14 teams in the next two years.
De Gabriele said Lowy's comments came as a surprise, given his group had always thought a 14-team league was at least three years away.
"We didn't think that after the 12 there was going to be an expansion in the next two years," De Gabriele said.
"That surprised us. We're not surprised it (expansion to 14 teams ) has been shelved - we're surprised that it was going to happen. We didn't think it was going to 14 in two years, we always knew it would be three years plus," he said.
"The (reports) said 'plans shelved for two years' - well, we never thought it was going to be on the plan. So we don't know where the plan grew and then got squashed. We were never asked, 'would you consider a 13th or 14th spot in 2011 or 12?'."
Ever the optimist, De Gabriele said his bid was still in contention for the 12th spot and finances were in order.
"We have got the money," he said. "The South Coast ended up getting the money to get to the table so we're on the short list. We've put a proposal into the FFA."
However, he admitted a western Sydney bid was in front over the 12th licence.
"It looks like the FFA's priority is second Melbourne and second Sydney."
By Michael Cox
Source: Illawarra Mercury 
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