Football Federation Australia says it has won a major battle against the clubs, players and the two biggest state federations but it could come at a significant price for the governing body; the establishment of a national second division that could serve as the stepping stone towards promotion and relegation, a move one A-League club has already spoken against.

This week, the FFA informed world football's governing body, FIFA, they have reached consensus from more than 75 per-cent of its members for the first stage of an expanded congress required to be more democratic and inclusive. It follows a harsh warning from FIFA that they will disband the FFA board and put in place a normalising committee to temporarily administrate the affairs of Australian football, in response to several missed deadlines from the FFA.

FFA Chairman Steven Lowy. Credit:Getty Images

However, FFA chairman Steven Lowy is understood to have informed Zurich that intervention won't be necessary after Football Federation Victoria broke their long- stand-off with the FFA. The FFV announced they will put their conditional support behind the first phase of a controversial model that could lead to a major restructure of Australian football, including the establishment of a national second tier comprised of existing National Premier League clubs, or new entrants.

Citing a lack of player pathways and connections between professional and grassroots football, the FFV made the late change that comes with several caveats that require the FFA to make major concessions.