As Football Federation Australia looks at the viability of a possible two-tier competition, Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell says it is still several years away.

The A-League was set up with eight clubs in 2005 and will expand to 10 teamswhen thenew season kicks off in August with the introduction of Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury.

A second Melbourne consortium has been granted a licence for 2010/11 and will be joined in the A-League by a 12th club, expected tocome from either Western Sydney, Canberra, Wollongong or Tasmania.

Further expansion remains a possibility but Mitchell says the stability of the top competition must be guaranteed before a second tier is seriously contemplated.

"We've got to settle the league. Is it 12 or is it 14 teams? Once that's established then look at the second division," Mitchell said.

"It would be quite hard because we've got to maintain the A-League first, but there's other clubs out there that would love to be a part of it.

"I know clubs in Adelaide and there's a couple of clubs here in Perth but it's a big financial burden on clubs and if it does come in we've just got to make sure that clubs don't go broke."

The former Parramatta Power and Sydney United boss believes the ideal way to test the waters is with a knockout cup competition, which would include both A-League and State league clubs.

The FFA has approved an FFA Cup competition in principle but is yet to confirm details of the tournament.

"I think that would be the easier way to start with, for sure, having an FA Cup and having a couple of rounds first and see what the response is," Mitchell said.

Former NSL powerhouse South Melbourne has publicly backed the introduction of a second tier, as have Sydney Tigers, formerly known as Apia Leichhardt.

The benefit of creating a second tier could be seen at the top level, with FFA seeking more berths in the lucrative Asian Champions League competition.

Currently just two Australian clubs qualify for the ACL each year, however, with entry requirements to be reviewed by the AFC in three years' time, the FFA is keen to secure more places by satisfying the current requirements of a second tier and a national cup competition.

PERTH SHAYNE HOPE