A-League expansion has become "a strategic priority" for FFA and Goal Australia understands the Apple Isle is ready to pounce

Tasmania shapes as the early A-League expansion front-runner, with a consortium representing the island state set to meet with Football Federation Australia (FFA) next week.

Goal Australia understands that a group looking to set up an A-League club in Tasmania are in a great position to make their case as they have government support at federal and state level, plus the backing of Football Federation Tasmania.

Unlike other groups rumoured to be pushing for an A-League licence, the consortium behind Tasmania's application are understood to have a very detailed plan for how their club would be run with elements such as a home ground and ownership structure already finalised.

The consortium, which reportedly includes former Melbourne Victory board members Harry Stamoulis and Robert Belteky, also apparently have the money in the bank to enter the A-League as soon as next season.

Former South Melbourne midfielder and football agent David Clarkson - who grew up in Tasmania - is a driving force behind the bid.

Goal Australia was unable to make contact with Clarkson for a comment.

In an article in Hobart-based newspaper The Mercury last week, an FFA spokesman was quoted confirming the governing body has been contacted by a Tasmanian consortium interested in A-League expansion.

"At this stage FFA have not engaged in formal dialogue with this group or any other groups as it would be premature to do so before a detailed road map for expansion has been finalised," the spokesman said.

FFA has made it clear that expanding the A-League to a 12-team competition is a top priority once a new broadcast deal is finalised.

The A-League's current broadcast deal with Fox Sports and SBS expires at the end of this season.

While FFA CEO David Gallop has previously claimed the A-League should "fish where the fish are", indicating that capital cities would be a priority for expansion, more recent comments by him and Head of A-League Greg O'Rourke have given smaller areas and cities some hope.

The past few months has seen numerous locations around Australia and New Zealand named as possible sites for A-League expansion.

Victory have previously hosted A-League matches at Launceston's Aurora Stadium, while a former group known as Tasmania United were amongst the defeated bids for a licence when Melbourne Heart joined the competition in 2010-11.