Many of the A-League's 10 clubs are frantically trying to raise the profile of this season by signing overseas guest players when the transfer window reopens in early January.

Their phones are running hot with calls from agents, as club administrators scour through contact lists for available players.

Some have already identified their targets, and others have even made moves to sign them, but there is one problem – they probably won't be granted guest player status by Football Federation Australia.

A point of frustration between clubs and the governing body could become a dispute over the guest player criteria, which are by nature somewhat arbitrary.