The A-League is set to be expanded to 10 teams for the 2009-2010 season with a North Queensland team receiving provisional admission to the competition today.
The Football Federation Australia is this afternoon expected to announce North Queensland Football Club as the bid team to have won the preliminary fight for a conditional license.
It's understood the prospective Townsville-based club will today be sent the terms and conditions of the criteria they must meet to get the official green light for entry.
It would see North Queensland join Gold Coast Galaxy as the two new teams added to the current eight-club premiership, which kicked off in 2005-06.
The FFA were known to be desperate to have a Townsville up and running for next year to ensure an even 10-team competition.
The Townsville team will play home games at Dairy Farmers Stadium which is also used by the North Queensland Cowboys NRL team.