FOOTBALL Federation Tasmania chief executive Mike Palmer says the fact Tasmania has not been mentioned as a possible location for a new A-League club if Wellington Phoenix’s licence is scrapped does not bode well for the prospect of the state one day securing a team in the competition.

The future of the Phoenix – which joined the 10-team A-League after the New Zealand Knights folded in 2007 – has been up in the air after Football Federation Australia recently only offered it a four-year extension to its competition licence rather than a 10-year one the nine other clubs received.

The rejection of the 10-year licence application fuelled intense speculation the New Zealand-based club would be replaced by a club in Australia, even as early as the next A-League season.

A third Sydney team, in the south, has been speculated to be the most likely replacement for the Phoenix should it leave the competition, but last week FFA boss Frank Lowy said other locations could be on the table.

“Ultimately, if Phoenix is not part of the A-League then FFA is obliged to explore options to maintain a 10-club competition. Clearly, a new team in south Sydney is one of those options,” Lowy said.

“Discussions have also taken place about the potential for a new team in Wollongong. Even a new team in Victoria, Canberra or Queensland can’t be completely ruled out at this stage.”

Palmer said Tasmania not being mentioned demonstrated the A-League’s desire to consolidate its 10-team model in big markets, but admitted it did not reflect too well on Tasmania’s place in considerations.

“I suppose it’s not good [Tasmania not being mentioned as a potential location],” he said.

“It would be nice for Tasmania to be in the conversation but I think the A-League is moving towards having teams in the big markets rather than a spread. We saw what happened to Gold Coast, North Queensland and now maybe Wellington.”

A Tasmanian football taskforce was formed in 2008 to investigate an A-League bid and despite having a potential backer in the world’s 77th richest man at the time – Saudi Arabian Sheik Mohammed Hussein Ali Al Amoudi – after the successful Western Sydney Wanderers joined the competition in the 2012-13 season there has been no real mention of a Tasmanian side one day joining.

In September it was announced Tasmania would not host an A-League pre-season fixture this year, with future games in the state also in doubt.

Palmer said Hobart and Launceston not getting five-figure crowds when games had been played in the state had hurt Tasmania.

“The crowds have been 6000 to 7000 and that’s the sort of the numbers Wellington are getting and that’s one of the problems with them,” Palmer said.