Four years after it was established, the A-League for Canberra bid has been dissolved after western Sydney yesterday won the race to become the latest team in the competition.

The A-League for Canberra bid will begin the process of refunding the $400,000 in foundation memberships, while also releasing corporate investors and the ACT Government, which pledged $2.5 million to the bid, from their commitments.

While admitting she was not surprised at Football Federation Australia wanting to tap into the large Western Sydney market, Reid was disappointed Canberra's solid bid had continually been overlooked.

''People can feel that this is a slap in the face,'' Reid said.

''The way it's been communicated leaves a lot to be desired.

''Ivan Slavich has put several years into building the brand and Capital Football has supported him all the way.

''We've pressed the case with the FFA every chance we've had.''

The addition of western Sydney ensures that the A-League remains at 10 teams for next season, with Gold Coast United likely to be wound up today.

The A-League for Canberra bid was established in 2008 when FFA outlined its plans to expand what was then an eight-team competition.

Canberra was initially overlooked for North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United.

Both clubs are now defunct after lasting two and three seasons respectively.

Second teams in Australia's two largest cities - Melbourne Heart and now western Sydney - were also preferred to the Canberra bid.

Slavich struggled to contain his anger after he found out about the FFA's decision through media reports yesterday morning.

''Absolutely we were strung along,'' Slavich fumed.

''Before I got involved when they were expanding from eight to 12 teams, I asked the question, 'do we have a serious shot at being included as one of the 12 teams?'

''I was told yes. At a subsequent meeting early last year, it was admitted to me by the FFA that they probably should've advised us that we weren't going to be considered as a 12th team.

''I think they already formulated in their mind that the four teams that they wanted were Townsville, Gold Coast, western Sydney and Melbourne as a second team.''

Where the A-League for Canberra bid had a guaranteed $4 million in start-up capital, a lack of investors has forced FFA to take ownership of the western Sydney franchise, along with the help of an $8 million injection into the region by the Federal Government.

The FFA hopes to revert to either a community-based model or private ownership within three years.

''[The FFA] has gone for strategy over substance and see western Sydney as more important to them than Canberra,'' Slavich said. ''It's an absolute snub of Canberra and the 600,000 people in this region and we're a bit jaded about the whole thing.''

Slavich said that he was told by Buckley it would be at least another three or four years before Canberra would be considered for a team but wouldn't rule out being involved in a future bid.

''The only way I'll be involved again is if the FFA came to me and said we want to establish a Canberra team and how can we make that happen,'' Slavich said.