Austin travelled to London with Senator Sir Philip Bailhache earlier this month to meet FA chairman Greg Clarke and European executive David Gill, but the Wembley chiefs refused to lend their support and appeared to suggest Uefa’s closed-door policy will be maintained to avoid further dilution of finances.
The JFA are set to have their fate decided at Uefa’s annual Ordinary Congress in February 2018, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the application must be discussed by all 55 member nations.
‘They [the FA] don’t think they can support our application, which is very disappointing,’ Austin explained.
‘We were told we’ve got to realise it’s about money – there are 55 nations having a slice of the cake at the moment and why would they want anyone else in?’
Austin had wanted the Congress appearance to be delayed until 2019, but that suggestion appears to have been waived away.
He added: ‘If we had another year to prepare I think we could have got a number of votes. In the time available to us now, it looks virtually impossible for us to get enough.
‘The crux of it is Uefa don’t really want anyone else in, at least not anyone of our size.’
Jersey, currently considered as a county within England FA, would require 28 votes in favour to have their bid for European membership accepted.
