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Former Socceroos captain Ned Zelic has called on Canberra to get the next team in the A-League before a third Sydney club. But Zelic says the Canberra public would be getting sick and tired of continued threats linking support of international fixtures to showing their desire for an A-League team. The push for an A-League side from the national capital is again certain to gain momentum when the Socceroos take on Kyrgyzstan at Canberra Stadium on Thursday night. Football Federation Australia's decision to deny Wellington Phoenix a 10-year extension to its A-League licence has heightened speculation the Phoenix will be kicked out of the competition. A third team in Sydney to be based in the Sutherland Shire has been mooted as the preferred option to take the Phoenix's place. But Zelic said Canberra should be the first team in given the city's wonderful support of this year's Asian Cup and its rich football history. "I think Canberra has proven its credentials," Zelic said. "Every time there is a game here, you always here that Canberrans have to get out and prove that they want a team. "It's like, haven't we already done that? "You kind of get sick of hearing that and I'm pretty sure a lot of Canberrans probably get sick of hearing it and would consider not going because there is still this discussion. "It's a World Cup qualifier, so I'm expecting a really good crowd and I think the way the group situation is, people will realise the Socceroos would want a lot of support for them." A bumper crowd in excess of 20,000 people is expected to see the Socceroos in Canberra for the first time since they beat Malaysia 5-0 in a friendly in 2011. The difference this time is that the Socceroos will be based in Canberra the whole week and will be conducting a number of community events, including an open training session at Canberra Stadium on Tuesday night. More than 82,000 people attended the seven Asian Cup games in January this year. The Canberra Stadium playing surface was also voted the best in the tournament. Canberra staged a bid for expansion in the A-League in 2008 only to get knocked back for the North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United. Both of those clubs have since folded. The Western Sydney Wanderers were also preferred to a Canberra team. Zelic said a Canberra team was a better alternative to a third side in Sydney. "Of course Canberra should be considered," Zelic said. "With the third team in Sydney, you don't want to get in a situation where the market is exhausted and you're still trying to scrounge something up just to expand. "That's obviously the danger with a third Sydney team – who is going to go to the games who isn't already supporting Sydney FC or the Wanderers. "At the same time, you face the danger that either Sydney FC or the Wanderers might lose a chunk of fans."

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