Melbourne Victory chairman Geoff Lord has revealed how the club is expecting to make a loss this season. After posting a net profit of over $1.5 million last year, the Victory will fall into the red as it struggles to renew it's naming-rights sponsorship deal with Samsung and declining membership numbers.

"I would have thought so because we are facing a big cost blowout and lower revenue. The world economic crisis has hurt our membership base and we're under pressure for sponsorships," Lord told the Herald Sun of the expected loss in 2009.

"Costs have gone up dramatically because clubs have been required to support the new competitions. Player costs have also risen."

Lord also made mention of the chances of having a second team in Melbourne.

"In light of what's going on now, how the heck could a second Melbourne club survive?" he said. "I think a new team will find it financially very difficult."