Whilst not against the concept of a second tier competition providing the foundations of a football pyramid structure in Australia, Peil believes the intended launch date is all wrong with the Australian Professional Leagues having just shed half its 90-strong workforce to rein in spiralling costs.

The new eight-team entity - which FA hopes to expand to 10 - is slated to kick off in March or April next year, and is viewed by many as a future conduit to a long-sought promotion/relegation model.

However, Peil warned: “The FA has to do the right thing by clubs - is it the right time to launch a second division? I personally don’t think it is.

“Putting competition next to the A-League, when we’re in the midst of several business corrections, isn’t the best idea.

“We’re still trying to find our feet a bit (after diverging from FA) and I just feel it won’t help the current situation at all.

“I think you’ll find most of the other A-League owners don’t quite get the timing of it either.”

Peil, the spearhead of the Anytime Fitness chain, insists it’s not a question of installing a protection racket to stifle competition and maintain the status quo, more a matter of growing responsibly.

“It’s not that we don’t believe that a second tier won’t add to the long term progression of the sport in Australia because we absolutely believe that it can.

“The point is that unleashing it at a point where we’re in the middle of a bit of a correction is somewhat dangerous."

APIA Leichhardt, Avondale, Marconi, Preston Lions, South Melbourne, Sydney Olympic, Sydney United, and Wollongong Wolves are the eight clubs to have already agreed to enter the national second tier.