Farina cautious over expansion

The Football Federation Australia board meets in Sydney on Thursday to decide on bids by the two potential franchises, which are viewed by many as a fait accompli.

But Farina, who coaches the Queensland Roar, believes it would be "too much too soon" for three teams to be playing out of the Sunshine State.

"If it's two teams ... and in Queensland then that's 46 more players - where are they going to come from?," he said.

"That's going to be a very difficult thing as well as spiralling costs, a youth league potentially coming in too.

"We all want expansion and growth, but if it's at the right time and everything grows accordingly.

"If the league size is going to grow and the amount of teams, players, you want your sponsorship dollars and revenue coming in to expand accordingly."

An expansion of the competition has been earmarked for more than a month with the only question seen as whether both the Gold Coast Galaxy and the Northern Thunder are admitted to next season's competition or in 2009-10.

The Galaxy have made more waves with the appointment of outspoken former Roar coach Miron Bleiberg as football director and much speculation over big-name recruits including Portsmouth's Premier League star Kanu.

But the Northern Thunder have steadily gone about their business and ticked all the boxes since happily seeing the Wellington Phoenix take the eighth licence from the now defunct New Zealand Knights last year.

Thunder head of operations James Gage declared the new franchise ready to go, but would be comfortable with a start either this year or next.

"The Northern Thunder's aim has been to get in and do the hard work and not blow our trumpets until it happens," Gage said.

"We would be happy with either decision and we're leaving it with the FFA to make it."

If only one is admitted it would leave the competition with the unsavoury prospect of a bye, while any admission would likely see the overly long pre-season cut shorter to allow for a 27-round regular-season prior to the finals series.

Farina would prefer to see the current eight-team competition played over four complete rounds in 28 weeks.

"They do it in Scotland and that way you're playing each team twice at home and twice away, but that's only me," he said.

"It will definitely increase the amount of games which is a good thing, but as I said, it increases costs as well and dilutes the playing field a bit."