The formula one in Abu Dhabi this weekend is the perfect setting for a competition wide meeting of minds, led by the City group, to explore the way forward for the A-League.

A meeting that should consider future expansion to South East Asia.

With expansion firmly on the FFA agenda, it's vital that all parties consider the ideal way forward to inform the debate and ensure the game maximises the huge opportunity current momentum offers.

This will take place in the next stage of reform which includes a new FFA chairman and complementary turnover of directors, and implementation of the whole of football plan focused specifically on state members and grass roots alignment. Lessons need to be learnt from the last, disastrous growth strategy which was saved by the desperate and, ultimately brilliantly successful introduction of the Wanderers.

The meeting is well timed, following recent comments by the Bakrie Group, owners of the Roar, about possible expansion into South East Asia, with Malaysia and Indonesia most proximal, besotted with football and carrying a combined population of around 280 million.

This is well worth considering.

In decades past, teams from Darwin and Perth have regularly competed in South East Asian competitions and, though this would be the reverse, inviting an Indonesian and Malaysian team into the A-League, possibly in an expansion to fourteen teams, with a further two mooted here in Australia, has great possibilities.

There would certainly be considerable scope to elevate the broadcast rights for such a competition. Both countries could enter a proxy national team plus huge investment in marquee players and high quality imports, akin to what we see in the Asian Champions League.

The A-League would serve as a perfect developmental environment for our regional friends, and would provide us the scale necessary to move beyond the salary cap environment which was an essential part of the genesis of the league but will shortly have expended its usefulness.

As a commercial market, the benefits are enormous and obvious.

The relationship would leverage football's ability to engage regionally, something Australia will come to better recognise in January's Asian Cup, and, with around $15 billion of trade with Indonesia and near 400 Australian companies doing business there, integration through professional football would offer an unprecedented platform to promote further trade.

Additionally, these are two important markets to export our football talent in future, particularly in the technical aspect such as coaches, analysts, football conditioning specialists, operational and administrative professionals. In order to continue to innovate and not stagnate through blockage of talent, this flow through and regeneration of white collar expertise needs a pathway abroad.

This direct relationship would be ideal in this regard.

The entry of the City Group is important because when our own clubs are still loss making, albeit on a diminishing basis, it is difficult to dream great dreams and think beyond the next year, let alone 10 or 50, and City will undoubtedly be looking to influence decision making here to optimise their own investment.

This is overwhelmingly positive, provided Australian interests coincide and take precedence.

Having their Melbourne investment leveraged in Indonesia, for example, would be attractive to any club seeking to grow their international brand so, with the Roar owners already thinking laterally, it may be these discussions are already under way.

The primary consideration is that we maintain control over our domestic and international futures and doing so requires control over the league. Many look to the EPL as the answer, yet its rise has resulted in minimal grass roots investment in England and a serious and damaging disconnect between the professional game and international competitiveness.

Australia must avoid this clash to the greatest extent possible because our international future is a critical ingredient in becoming the game of choice for Australian athletes and sports fans.

To achieve our international aims, and that of becoming the number one professional competition in Australia, we need to accelerate investment as quickly as possible to raise standards and invest heavily in our own talent.

The vast market across the Timor Sea provides very rich promise for the only game that can access this massive potential and collaboration could be immensely beneficial for both parties. We should certainly explore the possibility.