FOOTBALL Federation Australia will freeze A-League expansion until at least 2015, or until clubs can slash collective losses of $27 million.

The marquee players rule also will be reviewed, with FFA chief executive Ben Buckley yesterday hinting the governing body would investigate ways of easing the financial burden on clubs.

Buckley said FFA was hellbent on making a west Sydney club a success and keeping Newcastle in the league, but questioned Hunter Sports Group's version of its A-League licence acquisition story.

Sydney FC again won the A-League's financial wooden spoon, haemorrhaging $7 million in the past year.

A new TV rights deal will ease the burden and Buckley said FFA was focused on reducing clubs' debts.

"Our strategic plan sets out a financially robust and sustainable 10-team competition and the time horizon is the 2015 Asian Cup," he said.

"Once we've established that platform then we would look at the merits of expansion beyond the existing 10 teams.

"But right now our focus is on improving the financial sustainability of the existing competition.

"We're not saying player wages should be cut, we're just asking whether the discretionary spending above the cap is working as effectively as it should be."

After HSG's decision to return its licence to FFA, the governing body is investigating ownership models for the Jets while preparing for a court battle with Nathan Tinkler's group.

Buckley said the Clive Palmer and Tinkler episodes had made FFA rethink its single-ownership model, adding that FFA offered Tinkler a lengthy cooling off period when acquiring the Jets and not days as HSG has claimed.

Buckley was confident the A-League could overcome the recent turbulence.

"It's unfortunate that the actions of a couple of individuals has distracted from what has been a wonderful season," he said.

Originally published as Freeze to get soccer in order