The FFA set to confirm a major increase of the A-League Marquee Player Fund to $3 million. A fund of $1 million was introduced this season, about half of which was used to help Melbourne City sign Tim Cahill. Credit:Daniel Pockett

The free-to-air broadcaster for the next six seasons will not likely be known until April, once the television rights for the Big Bash League cricket are sold. Channel Nine are expected to make an aggressive bid to purchase the rights.

Sources suggest a deal between Fox and Channel 10 is regarded by the FFA as a good fit for the A-League. The network's popularity with younger demographics is regarded as a strong selling point given Australian football's strongest growth market in the 16-39 age group.

Should the partnership come to fruition, it will involve some further payment from 10 but the overall cash windfall is unlikely to rise much beyond the $57.6 million annual cheque the FFA will receive from Fox for the next six years. It would not be a popular move among the 10 A-League clubs, who have already expressed their disenchantment over the first financial instalment of the new TV deal that came in at a lower value than expectations.

It's understood the clubs are displeased with the ongoing uncertainty over their annual grants as part of the new broadcast deal, with some calling for a significant increase from $2.6 million to $6 million next season – providing them with the overwhelming majority of the broadcast fees. The FFA are also yet to sell the international broadcast rights for the A-League.