Respected rugby league administrator Steve Noyce (left) and Greg Florimo at the North Sydney Bears club earlier this year. Credit:Brendan Esposito

"We've obviously put in [a] lot of time, money and effort, built a lot of goodwill and a lot of support for the inclusion of a Central Coast team into the competition and that is where we sit at the moment," Florimo said. "We're hopeful that the NRL is going to give us some direction on expansion and where we sit in the whole debate but obviously the No.1 intention for us is to keep the Bears brand alive.

"Until we hear anything different from the NRL we are full steam ahead with that bid, we have been driving very hard for the last six years and we are desperate for resolution at this point. But if the NRL came out and said there would be no expansion on the Central Coast we would have to look outside the square and goal No.1 from the start has been to make sure the Bears brand is back in the NRL."

The only hope of a franchise on the Central Coast being given the green light is if the NRL decides to create an extra game to increase the value of the pay-TV broadcast rights after selling four free-to-air games to Nine from 2018, although a second Brisbane side and another team in New Zealand or Perth would be more likely options.

Should any of those regions gain admission to the NRL ahead of the Central Coast, the Bears would strongly consider becoming involved provided the team played in black and red as the Bears and could offer juniors, supporters and a sound financial base.