The FFA board is expected to announce on Wednesday if two of the six A-League aspirants have been successful in joining the top tier of Australian football for the 2019/20 season.

Out of the remaining six bidders – Canberra, Western Melbourne Group, Team 11, Macarthur South West Sydney and Southern Expansion – only South Melbourne is an existing club.

Over the years the former National Soccer League club has produced 52 Socceroos including Australia’s most successful coach, Ange Postecoglou.

The former national team boss who started as a ball boy with South and won four NSL titles as a coach and player believes the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics) Oceania Club of the Century will thrive in the A-League.

“It is one of the few clubs that can seamlessly compete at a higher level and I am of the belief it can be a competitive force from its initial introduction,” he said, speaking exclusively to FTBL.

“South Melbourne FC has played a significant role in laying the foundations for where the sport is today.

“It has shaped me as a person and was instrumental in shaping my career as both a player and coach.

“The club is very close to my heart and I know if given the opportunity it can play a pivotal role in growing the game to even greater heights.”

South Melbourne have also invested heavily in their youth programs with current PEC Zwolle assistant coach Michael Valkanis recently taking on the role of Head of Football Development.

At present South has 80 coaches and staff in its football and schools programs.

The club has also opened pathways for players into Asia and Europe and their relationship with Real Madrid sees their youngsters and coaches regularly visit Spain as part of the club’s football curriculum.

Picture source: Skip Fulton.

Bid chairman Bill Papastergiadis believes that the Lakeside club is Australia’s football factory.

“It has the most successful youth football program for boys and girls in Victoria,” he said speaking to FTBL.

“Coupled with its agreements with almost 50 football clubs with the majority based in the south-east of Melbourne, as well as its impressive development of Socceroos, few clubs in Australia can match its pedigree.”