ACTION: Could we see Tim Cahill (L) playing against the Coast's own A-League team? NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

ACTION: Could we see Tim Cahill (L) playing against the Coast's own A-League team? NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY JOE CASTRO-AAP

FOOTBALL: Sunshine Coast FC managing director Noel Woodall has confirmed a bold bid for a Sunshine Coast A-League team has gone to "stage two”.

A syndicate of Asian and Indian businessmen has expressed interest in partnering with Mr Woodall and the club known as the Fire to deliver an A-League team to the region.

Mr Woodall has met with Brisbane-based Indian businessman Nirav Tripathi and pending the release of the bid criteria by Football Federation Australia, Woodall said it was likely the Fire would partner with the syndicate to submit a bid to establish one of two new teams expected to be added to the league in 2018/19.

Woodall hoped to meet with the FFA in the next month to discuss the potential bid.

BOSS: Sunshine Coast FC boss Noel Woodall. Warren Lynam

The Coast businessman said with the failure of previous single-owner ventures had reinforced his belief a consortium of owners and a club with a broad income base was the key to success with the syndicate bringing diversity and expertise in a range of fields.

Woodall said the syndicate had recently been awarded a licence for a franchise in the fledgling Indian Super League and was building a 100,000-seat stadium - where the Coast's A-League side could play exhibition matches - but he added that was still a long way off.

A lawyer by trade, Woodall said he was working with the syndicate's Australian consultants on the bid.

He said the Sunshine Coast held advantages over other regions being touted as potential homes to new clubs like South Melbourne, Perth, Wollongong, Canberra and Brisbane.

Woodall said the lack of national sporting teams in football codes on the Coast and the growth in the area could work in their favour for the bid.

"We would always be a regional club. That's how we see ourselves,” Woodall said.

He said ideally Sunshine Coast Stadium would be increased to seat 8000-10,000 people to reach A-League standard, with the changerooms, communications and telecast facilities already up to scratch.

"We've got a lot to do and we've got a lot against us,” Woodall said.

GLORY DAYS: Flashback to 2012, Sunshine Coast Fire FC v Whitsunday Miners at Stockland Park. The game was 2-2 and went into extra time and then penalty shootout, the fire won that 5-4. Cade Mooney

Despite agreeing in-principle to express interest to the FFA, there was still a 12-month business case development process to undergo as well as garnering public support.

Woodall said the Fire had already created processes and pathways for juniors in its catchment area spanning from Caboolture to Hervey Bay and said there would need to be youth teams in place if any A-League bid was to be successful, ensuring a pathway for juniors through to youth, National Premier League and A-League levels.

When asked how it would work alongside Sunshine Coast Football, Woodall said an A-League licence and the improved business capacity would give a greater ability to "host community-standard clubs” than what they had currently.

He hoped fans would be attracted to the opportunity to see their own national football team in action regularly and even spoke of an opportunity in future for fans to buy in as minor shareholders in the club to give the community a greater sense of ownership of the club.

"We're hoping to try and achieve buy-in,” Woodall said, adding those plans were a long way down the path.

"We're waiting for the criteria to be released first.”