FOX Sports has not ruled out backing a Tasmanian A-League team, after one of the bid members said the network supported the push to establish a team in the state.

Football Federation Australia has revealed that broadcasters would be consulted over their preferred choices for when the competition grows from 10 to 12 teams.

Fox Sports is the main holder of the A-League television rights and, on the weekend, former Melbourne Victory director Robert Belteky said the consortium had talks with the network around the bid.

“We had a chat the other day and they indicated they were supportive of us,” he told SBS. “It’s very encouraging that Fox Sports are behind us because one of the things that FFA and David Gallop will be looking at is what a new club brings to the broadcast deal.”

A spokeswoman for Fox Sports said it was too early to say whether the network would back the push.

Federal MP for Denison Andrew Wilkie said Fox Sports’ support for Tasmania’s bid would be a game changer.