Melbourne City will become the latest football club to run both a men’s and women’s team after Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop confirmed the inclusion of an expansion side in next season’s W-League.

City’s application to enter Australia’s premier women’s football competition was accepted by the FFA on Tuesday and they will now field a team in the 2015-16 campaign, which starts in September.

Seven other A-League clubs already have sister teams competing in the W-League, with Canberra United the only club in the current eight-team format not affiliated with a men’s side.

The National Premier Leagues and former Melbourne Victory head coach, Joe Montemurro, will coach City, with former Matilda Louisa Bisby as team manager.

The expansion will swell the W-League’s numbers to nine teams in a move that fits with FFA’s strategic vision of all A-League clubs being affiliated with a W-League team, an idea outlined in the Whole of Football Plan released last week. As of next season, just Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners will not operate a women’s team.

“Melbourne City’s commitment to join the Westfield W-League for the 2015-2016 season is a good step forward for the development of women’s football, which was identified as a key priority for the future of our game,” Gallop said.

“It is one of the first practical measures in improving elite women’s football in Australia and offers another group of talented female footballers the opportunity to develop their games and strive towards a career as a football player.

“It is also a strong commitment from one of our Hyundai A-League clubs to the Whole of Football Plan’s One Club model with the aim of one day having clubs competing in the A-League and W-League to establish strong links between men’s and women’s football.”

Montemurro will take control of the new team at the conclusion of the NPL season with a brief to source players and build a squad before September’s kick-off.

“This is a very exciting moment for Melbourne City FC,” City chief executive Scott Munn said. “It has always been our ambition to have a women’s team and our acceptance into the W-League for next season is the culmination of a lot of hard work.

“Increasing women’s participation in football is vital for the game’s growth in the future and we are looking forward to our season commencing under Joe’s experienced leadership later this year.”