The exciting new-look future for football in Queensland is a step closer to reality following the close of the expansion licence application period this week.
Football Queensland has received 35 applications from clubs interested in being part of the ground-breaking two-tier setup in 2018, which was announced in December.
The restructured state system will incorporate promotion and relegation between an expanded PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland and the new Queensland Premier League.
Clubs who submitted an expression of interest were given a month to address uniform criteria applicable to both competitions.
An independent review panel will now assess all submissions with a view to notifying successful applicants in late April.
Football Queensland CEO Geoff Foster welcomed the next stage of the expansion process.
“We are encouraged by the number of applications we have received and the general reception to our announcement from the football community,” Foster said.
“Football Queensland thanks each of the applicants as well as those who submitted an expression of interest.
“It is important to get this next step right and the review panel will thoroughly examine each application.”
The 35 clubs to have applied for an expansion licence do not include Brisbane Roar, who will continue to participate in PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland under a Memorandum of Understanding.
Football Queensland expects to announce the identity of the 28 competing clubs in early May.