T & R
In the speech Gallop said the next expansion teams would be in large population areas ... my guess is Auckland meets this .. however there is the AFC issue .. If NZF can get the AFC to allow another NZ team in the A-League I think Auckland is a very good chance of getting a team... not sure about a third as a third Sydney, second Brisbane, third Melbourne are in large population centres...
Population of Illawarra ('gong plus Shoalhaven & Kiama) as of 2012 was 450,000 plus and climbing. They're definitely keen on a team based at WIN Stadium. And of course Auckland is 3 times bigger still...
The only thing standing in the way [and maybe its not] of Auckland is the AFC issues...
My understanding and please correct me if I am wrong is The Nix's are an Australian team who play in NZ, which results in the Nix's not being able to take part in any Oceania events, while the AFC has also said they can't compete in AFC events neither.
So the AFC need to accept a second Australian side playing in NZ ...
Or has NZF been allowed to play in the A-League ...
But to your point yes Auckland has more than 3 times the population of the Gong and would be preferred over them.... The Gong's claim which is true is it is a football heartland and could support a team if crowds where measured ... however these days its the TV ratings that rule and Auckland would you think get more eyes on the telly than the Gong.