The semi-unification of the state federations to create the National Premier League and the establishment of the FFA Cup were seen by some as the first steps in creating a national second tier to the A-League and while that might be the case, there will be pathways between the two in the next 20 years.

There is a fear that the financial viability of the A-League could be compromised if the top tier of Australian football is composed of teams with little strategic placement and on football merit alone, with little reflection on market forces.

However, that's not to say that there is no value placed on the NPL and other semi-professional clubs. The FFA has indicated in its long-term plan the importance of any current and potential new entrant in the A-League must develop a strong relationship with existing clubs and communities.

Current NPL clubs will not have the chance to progress to the A-League through promotion though the FFA will consider their application for licences. Existing clubs will be able to submit bids to enter the A-League alongside potential consortiums.

Raising the standard of the A-League is identified as one of the major tasks for the future of the game as it will attract more fans, more money which could lead to more of a "top down" approach taken by organisations like the AFL and NRL and subsequently a reduction of amateur registration fees. Currently, 22 per cent of junior participants actively support A-League clubs and raising that percentage by four-fold is the FFA's target.