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Australian soccer's much-vaunted panacea - a promotion and relegation system - is no chance of happening in the near future according to the players' union.

A-League players want quick progress an independent league for next season, but they're happy for talks on relegation and promotion system to be put on the back-burner.

That's the takeaway from their spokesperson and leader, Professional Footballers Australia chief John Didulica, as the players' union mulls its priorities among the many competing interests.

Reforms to the sport that have followed the end of the Lowy era have thrown many balls into the air.

That includes A-League expansion and independence, a second division, a Women's World Cup bid as well as several other working groups commissioned by new chair Chris Nikou.

The sport's hardcore fans are salivating for the introduction of a promotion-relegation system, mimicking most other professional systems.

Didulica is as keen as anyone else to get there but says the sport mustn't put the cart before the horse.

"There's no point discussing promotion and relegation until you've got 14 to 16 teams in the A-League, followed by a robust second tier of at least 12 teams," he said.

"Until you grow your professional footprint to around 28 teams, you're not going to be in a position to manage promotion and relegation effectively."

The PFA chief wants a primary focus on the competition breaking away, with independent directors appointed by clubs and the FFA.

Then comes further expansion beyond the 11th and 12th teams, Western United and Macarthur South West United Football Club, to enter the competition this and next year respectively.

Didulica is also steadfast on the second division operating at a higher level than existing semi-professional standards of the state-based National Premier League competitions.

"The entire objective of a second division is about building out our professional footprint," he said.

"It's about connecting as many people as possible to the game. Producing opportunities for more players.

"Building a platform for clubs that are ambitious and may wish to join the A-League or W-League in the future.

"The entire premise of this competition ... is totally at odds with a semi-professional environment."

To that end, while the players, A-League clubs and FFA want a quick resolution to independence talks, Didulica wants more thought on a second division.

"Expediency is our enemy," he said.

"If we're taking expedient outcomes within a national second division, we're already setting ourselves up to fail."