Billionaire Bruce Gordon has almost certainly ruled out the financial backing for an A-League franchise on the south coast of New South Wales.
Gordon doubts he would bankroll the Wollongong-based South Coast A-League bid but said he would lend his support if it were to go ahead.
"We had lunch with (Sydney FC owner) Frank Lowy and he wanted to have an A-League team in Wollongong and we said we would support that," Mr Gordon said. "We will help out where we can.
"I don't think we'll have that opportunity in the future ... the South Coast A-League are talking to us all the time but with the changes of ownership in the A-League we'll have to see what happens," he said.
An announcement on the next stage of South Coast's bid is expected later this year which will see the proposed club go up against bids from Melbourne, western Sydney, Tasmania and Canberra.