Football Federation Australia's worst fears may have just been realised; the mob is mobilising.
Following a marathon first day of meetings with a joint FIFA and Asian Football Confederation mission aimed to break the bitter political impasse of Australian football, key Australian stakeholders sought to strike a deal over a new FFA Congress strictly on their terms.
A-League club owners, state member federations, the PFA and even National Premier League clubs inched closer to breaking the bitter deadlock that's threatened to bring Australian football governance to a standstill and could reach an agreement for a new membership structure as early as Thursday.
However, in doing so, they are attempting to completely sideline the FFA from the peace talks. If successful, it could see the game avoid FIFA's intervention going any further than this week's mission, but could also render the tenure of FFA chairman Steven Lowy all but untenable if parties side with his opponents.
The talks between the parties will go deep into the night on Thursday and followed individual meetings with the delegation, which includes FIFA's Nodar Akhalkatsi, AFC's Ravi Kumar and a FIFA lawyer.
Following the first day of talks with FIFA, some stakeholders suggested they were left "none the wiser" as to how the deadlock will be broken on the FFA's terms within the next three days, but left knowing exactly where they stand with world football's governing body.
FIFA reinforced their threat to appoint a "normalising committee" that will disband the FFA board and put in place temporary administrators to oversee a transition that will meet their governance requirements.
That will occur should Australian football fail to reach consensus for a new FFA congress by November 30 that is sufficiently inclusive, democratic and representative of its stakeholders, including its female participants.
The delegation highlighted the recent situation in Greece, were government interference lead to a normalising committee introduced to oversee change and the previous board being removed.
However, FIFA also made it clear that outcome was not their preferred road forward, preferring Australian stakeholders to make all attempts to reach consensus and strike a deal for a new membership tier.
First, the FIFA delegation met with FFA's management, including Lowy and chief executive David Gallop for three hours in the morning. Next where the nine state member federations, who spent two hours with the delegation and the FFA leaders. The A-League clubs followed in the afternoon before the players had the final briefing in the evening. The players' union was represented by PFA chief executive John Didulica, president and Sydney FC defender Alex Wilkinson, and former Matilda Kate Gill.
There was not enough time for FIFA to meet with the National Premier League clubs, who were scheduled for first thing on Thursday morning before the integral inclusive talks will take place involving all six parties in one room.
The meetings took place at the FFA's offices at 1 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, but the scene was set in surrounding cafes and hotels.
Almost 30 administrators convened at the one hotel near Hyde Park where the most crucial discussions began during the day. Coming and going from the FFA headquarters were the A-League club owners, the state member federation chairmen, the NPL executives and representatives of players all encouraged to reach some form of middle ground to avoid entering the uncharted territory for Australian football that would come with a normalising committee.
It wasn't so much horse-trading or bargaining, but a union of mutual interests - one that would cause considerable concern for FFA. Australian football's stakeholders were in the same place, at the same time, seeking one outcome with the door firmly shut on FFA involvement.
The value of Wednesday's talks won't be known until Thursday when all parties will meet under the watchful eye of FIFA where, if the power-brokers among the clubs and states get their way, the world body could approve the way forward.
