WITH the A-League officially confirming two more clubs will be added to the competition for the 2018/19 season, stakeholders are lining up to press their case for inclusion in Australian football’s top flight.

The contenders range from NSL powerhouses to new entities and clubs from major cities and regional centres.

Here are all those who have confirmed their intention to officially bid for an A-League licence.

Adam Peacock is joined by Daniel Garb and Simon Hill to talk football here and abroad in this week’s Fox Football Podcast ...

SOUTH MELBOURNE

ARGUABLY the most forward of the bids, South Melbourne made everyone take notice when they made their intentions known in early November.

South Melbourne. Source: News Corp Australia

It shouldn’t be a surprise to see the former NSL powerhouse lodge a bid for a spot in Australia’s top flight.

After all, they’ve done it all before, having previously bid for the licence which went to Melbourne Heart — now Melbourne City — and tried to buy a stake in Central Coast Mariners.

“I don’t think there’s anything holding us back,” club director Bill Papastergiadis told the Herald Sun.

“Where we differentiate ourselves from franchise clubs is the stadium deal, the capital we’ve got in support of this bid and the junior development program that we believe is the best in Australia.

“But also, we won’t cannibalise the support of the existing A-League clubs in Melbourne.

“Our advisory board knows the great history of this club, but also has the ability to drive it forward.”

The club’s bid would be based upon their plan to train and play at Lakeside Stadium, the current homeground, which has a capacity of 15,000.

TASMANIA

ONE of the most vocal bids, the Tasmanian push for a local licence has the backing of local MP Andrew Wilkie.

Andrew Wilkie. Source: News Corp Australia

As things stand, the Tasmanian bid focuses on playing out of Hobart — likely at North Hobart Oval.

Backing the bid are former Melbourne Victory shareholders Robert Belteky and Harry Stamoulis, who told AAP they believe a Tasmanian team can attract crowds of between 8000 and 10,000 every week.

Wilkie has actively pushed for a local team, even taking the bid to parliament’s Question Time, where he asked Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about the plan to redevelop North Hobart Oval.

“I will continue to look for every opportunity in the Parliament to advocate for the establishment of a Tassie A-League team,” he said in a statement.

“Because, as I said in my question to the PM, it would be a wonderful rallying point for the community, inject millions of dollars into the economy, establish soccer as the only true national football code, and boost TV audiences.”

Regions to have discussed but are yet to officially confirm a bid ...

ADELAIDE CITY

WITH Adelaide United breaking through for their first A-League title last season, there is a sense the local market could sustain a second team.

One contender willing to put its hand up is Adelaide City.

Football director Fred Lenzi told the Adelaide Advertiser the club was focused on ensuring their own stability and growth but wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to bid for a licence, were it able to secure some major backers.

“If an opportunity with a benefactor came up, we wouldn’t want to miss the boat,’’ Lenzi said.

“But we’ve also got to look at being sustainable for the long term. We’ve got a five-year plan, a vision we have set, we’re two years down that track to where we want to be to have all of our structure in place as a club.

“Our first focus is to be the best NPL (second tier) club in Australia.

“We’ve got a brand that is respected and one that is at the top level of clubs in this country and we want to put some stability around that.”

Adelaide City and West Adelaide. PIC SARAH REED. Source: News Limited

WEST ADELAIDE

FORMER NSL powerhouse West Adelaide is preparing to launch a bid for an A-League licence.

West Adelaide vice-chairman Andy Haralampopoulos told the Adelaide Advertiserthe club had made contact with FFA.

“We expressed our interests in writing to FFA last year after we met with Damien de Bohun (former A-League chief),’’ he said.

“We’re about to refresh our expression of interest.

“Our submission will be good and well weighted with EPL interest, changing the dynamics of the whole venture.”

AUCKLAND CITY

DESPITE the Phoenix’s struggles along the journey, local interest for a second A-League team in New Zealand remains.

Auckland City, who are participating in their eighth Club World Cup this year, has flagged its interest in bidding for a licence — on the condition the bid has FFA support.

Auckland City FC chairman Ivan Vuksich says the club is keen to test themselves in the A-League.

Auckland City coach Ramon Tribulietx. (Photo by Mike Hewitt - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

“We’d obviously like to be involved but it’s been difficult to pick up when they’re calling for expressions of interest,” he told AAP.

“We keep hearing they’re looking at a 2018/19 entry and that’s quite a way off.

“We’ve made some tentative enquiries and talked to funders but it’s very early days.”

Vuksich said the club hadn’t received an indication from FFA that the governing body would support its bid.

“We would like to be in the A-League but it’s always been a fairyland idea that we would be asked,” Vuksich said.

“If we had any inkling that there was interest from Australia - and we’ve never had anything like that - we would try and bed down a few of these things.

“That’s as far as we’ve gone.”

Were Auckland to receive a licence, the team would likely look to play at Mt Smart Stadium, home of the NRL’s New Zealand Warriors.

BRISBANE STRIKERS/IPSWICH

THE case for a second Brisbane team has been heavily pushed in recent weeks, though no confirmed bid has emerged.

Melbourne City played Brisbane Strikers in the FFA Cup. Pic: Jono Searle. Source: News Corp Australia

Former Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg appears to be at the centre of a Brisbane Strikers bid, which could yet be a combined application with the Western Corridor if that’s Queensland’s best way of getting a second team in the A-League.

GEELONG

DESPITE not officially launching a bid, talks around the region appear to be continuing.

The Geelong Advertiser reported the Geelong consortium has already begun tabling meetings with the FFA and City of Greater Geelong.

Atletico Madrid trains in Geelong. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia

A local bid would likely revolve around the redevelopment of Kardinia Park — which has previously hosted Melbourne Victory games.

WOLLONGONG

SEEMINGLY an ever-present candidate for expansion, the Wolves consistently remain in the conversation but are yet to officially announce their plans for a bid.

Wollongong Wolves v Sydney FC. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

“If guidelines come out in January or February, of course we’re going to look at those guidelines very, very closely,” club CEO Chris Papakosmas told AAP.

According to reports, FFA is believed to prefer a ‘super-team’ encompassing the Illawarra, Sutherland and St George regions, with the side splitting games between Wollongong’s WIN Stadium and Cronulla’s Southern Cross Group Stadium.

The possible involvement of Wollongong-based television mogul Bruce Gordon would certainly boost a Wolves candidacy.

Other contenders

CANBERRA UNITED

THE nation’s capital is constantly thrown up as a potential expansion market, though as yet, no consortium has stepped up to push Canberra’s case for an A-League licence.

In fact, Canberra Football has moved to quash speculation, with chief exectuive Phil Brown telling the Sydney Morning Herald the region would instead focus on their W-League team and senior and junior pathways.

Canberra United W-League. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

“Capital Football isn’t preparing a bid for the A-League. We’d support any organisation or we’d love to have a chat to anyone who was looking to put one in,” he said.

“But our focus is around community football and the pathway through the National Premier League, and our Canberra United girls.

“We’d love to see an opportunity for our young boys in the National Youth League ... but above that we don’t have any immediate plans to put in a bid.”

NORTHERN FURY

THE club once known as North Queensland Fury has bounced back well since losing its A-League licence.

Melbourne City's Bruno Fornaroli and Northern Fury's Corey Waples. Source: News Corp Australia

But Northern Fury chairman Rabieh Krayem says his club isn’t a candidate for expansion at this stage, instead focusing on the NPL and building junior pathways.

“The reality is we won’t be in a position in the next round of expansion in the next 24 months,” he told FourFourTwo.

“I think any organisation, you’ve got to have time to build the platform to tick all the boxes.”

PERTH/FREMANTLE

WHILE talk of a second Perth team has somewhat flown under the radar, that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

Perth Glory fans. (Photo by Gary Day/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Back in August, Football West chairman Liam Twigger told AAP the state’s governing body wants to secure a second A-League licence, with a view to having a team up and running in the next three-to-five years.

“We have more players in the game than ever and our clubs have done a fantastic job in developing players capable of competing in the A-League and overseas,” Twigger said.

“We must continue to drive our game and, having a second team in WA, will double the number of opportunities for players, officials, coaches and fans to engage in the game.

“Just as the arrival of Western Sydney Wanderers has ignited football in NSW, a second WA team will add significant value to WA football.”

SOUTH-EAST MELBOURNE

A LOCAL A-League team in Melbourne’s South-East would have the support of major football clubs and councils in the Casey-Dandenong region.

Dandenong Thunder. Picture: Josie Hayden Source: News Corp Australia

The Herald Sun reported in November that the likes of Dandenong City, Dandenong Thunder, Springvale White Eagles, South Springvale, Berwick City and Casey Comets would back an expansion team.

The region certainly ticks all the boxes in terms of population — with 1.2 million people calling the South East home.

Standing in its way at the moment is the lack of a viable stadium option — though the absence of a top tier sports team in the region does create a gap in the market.

SOUTHERN SYDNEY

WHILE an official consortium is yet to be announced, a Southern Sydney bid would be an early favourite to secure a licence, given the region’s combination of a large population and football interest.

Lyall Gorman. Picture : Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Former A-League boss Lyall Gorman, who now heads up NRL club Cronulla, told SBS the region — which could encompass St George, Sutherland Shire and Illawarra — was ripe for an A-League team.

“This is an incredibly logical area - it is rich in football history,” Gorman said.

“Its participation rate is remarkable, we have a venue here (Southern Cross Group Stadium), we know the pride and passion, we are seeing that replicated in our NRL team now.”

“To be able to unite that as we did in Western Sydney and bring it together as one strong voice and one strong representation in, to be really frank, the global game - would be a very special opportunity.”

Gorman also said Cronulla Sharks would consider owning the A-League licence were an expansion club based in the region.