FFA chairman Chris Nikou has told a Football Writers' Festival in NSW that promotion and relegation is unlikely to occur any time soon.

"The current A-League clubs have a licence till 2034 so promotion and relegation earlier than that is not likely," Nikou, a guest speaker at the festival, said.

"I might point out that the FFA has a right to change that but in the current climate it would not be right for me to take this any further."

FFA board member Remo Nogarotto responded to fan concerns on social media to express confusion over Nikou's statements.

Nogarotto said the 2034 timeframe appeared to be a personal view of Nikou and not the result of any board discussion.

"Got no idea where that number comes from," Nogarotto tweeted.

"Sounds pretty arbitrary. Must be a private view and certainly one that is not shared by me.

"Would have preferred a proper board discussion before publicly ventilating."

In February A-League clubs released a blueprint for an independent competition beginning later this year.

In the blueprint a growth to a 16-team home-and-away competition is viewed as the first step to bringing promotion and relegation to and from a national second division.

Under the model developed by A-League clubs' umbrella body APFCA, 75 per cent approval would be needed from existing clubs to make promotion and relegation a reality.

Australian Associated Press