At the meeting, the representatives produced a letter of support from the Tasmanian government for an A-League licence as well as a pledge to refurbish stadiums at costs between $20 million and $30 million. The team would have primarily been based out of Hobart, while also playing matches in Launceston, but that appears to not have allayed the FFA's concerns particularly about infrastructure and broadcast appeal.

Representatives of the Tasmania bid were the first of what is expected to be an influx of parties ready to meet with the FFA in the hope of gaining an A-League licence. While the door was not shut on the Tasmanian bid following the meeting, being one of six regions that have already signalled their interest to the FFA prompted the organisation to introduce a set of criteria for expansion that will be unveiled by early next year.

The FFA has not provided a specific framework for interested bidding parties but is now prepared to open the process to the market and will invite bids from across the country for inclusion in the A-League by as early as January. Expansion of a 10 to 12-team competition will likely occur in the 2018-19 season coinciding with the introduction of a new broadcast deal next season.

Any new entrant into the A-League will likely have to prove a strong connection to a grass-roots player pool, the ability to promote a sense of passion and tribalism within its region as well as attract TV audiences.

It's for this reason Brisbane, Southern Sydney and Geelong are considered the frontrunners for inclusion in the next stage of A-League expansion. But that could change once the process is opened to bids with specific criteria. It's understood bids from Western Australia and South Australia will also be put forward to the FFA next year.