FORMER NSL champions Wollongong Wolves say they’re ready to join the A-League and want a place in next year’s W-League as a launch pad.

It’s understood submissions to enter the W-League will open in the next few weeks and Wolves chairman Andrew Byron says the club will be pushing for a place, with several Matildas keen to play for the new team.

“In terms of putting a W-League team on the park we could be highly competitive ready within 12 months and win it in the first year,” Byron told the Daily Football Show podcast on Wednesday.

Blacktown Spartans’ Martin Vazquez and Wollongong Wolves’ Sam Matthews. Source: Supplied

Michelle Heyman, Caitlin Foord and Caitlin Cooper are players with Wollongong ties who starred for the Matildas during the recent Olympic qualification success and women’s football is extremely popular in the region.

Matildas’ Michelle Heyman arrives home after qualifying for the Rio Olympics. Source: News Corp Australia

Byron said the club would also be ready to meet the next round of potential A-League expansion.

“We know the timeline from FFA, we know the plan of rollout for expansion for the A-League is 2-3 years and we believe we are ready.

“It’s time we stand up now and tell everyone where we are at - yes we’re ready to go.”

The Wolves played in one of the greatest National Soccer League finals - beating Perth Glory in 2000 after being 3-0 down - but financial and infrastructure concerns stopped them from nominating for the first year of the A-League.

Central Coast Mariners took up the eighth spot instead, a move Byron concedes was probably a mistake by then Wolves board.

Wollongong Wolves celebrate winning the 2000 NSL. Source: News Limited

Since then there has been an unsuccessful bid by a Wollongong-based consortium to bid for an A-League franchise, while the Wolves have been given little FFA encouragement by a governing body that flirted with a franchise in southern Sydney.

The FFA is looking to expand into larger population areas and Byron said the catchment of the Wolves was closer to 800,000 than the 400,000 quoted as in Wollongong city.

A Wollongong Wolves player takes on a Hakoah FC player. Source: Supplied

While Byron accepted there were some infrastructure issues in the region - Wollongong has no wet weather pitch for instance - he was confident that they were on the way to being rectified.

“If you want to talk about A-League and bringing in a professional franchise in terms of the financial backing and facilities, we’re ready to go now,” Byron said. “We could have put a team in yesterday.”

Wollongong Wolves logo. Source: FOX SPORTS

“When we come in we don’t want to be just a number, we want to be one of the biggest franchises in the competition.”

The Wolves are against a potential merger with a southern Sydney based partner.

“In terms of financial structure we’re very sound and we’re ready. The financial support and where it is coming from is Wollongong stand alone.

“It’s Wollongong stand alone or not all.”