Melbourne Heart goalkeeper, Clint Bolton, has urged Australia's Football Federation to devote more time and resources to developing the A-League in the wake of the failed World Cup bid.

And, in a separate development, the former Sydney premiership keeper said the Heart's onerous travel schedule this season - the 'toughest' of any A-League team - was partly responsible for the club's flat performances in recent weeks.

Bolton said the FFA's commitment to, and focus on, Australia's World Cup bid might have been one of the reasons why A-League attendances have been down this season.

The attendance for the Melbourne Heart's away game against Gold Coast United last weekend, for example, was a paltry 1658 - just 26 more than the A-League's worst crowd.

Although Bolton wasn't fazed by playing in front of the empty stands, he said he would like to see the FFA increase its role in supporting and promoting the A-League.

"Now that the World Cup bid has finished hopefully the FFA will use its resources and energy to help promote the A-League and make it a success," he said.

"Unfortunately the World Cup bid was not granted to us (Australia) and because there has been poor crowds at several A-league games hopefully the FFA can help make the competition successful again.''

In light of the World Cup being granted to Qatar, Bolton suggested that football in Australia was now entering a potentially difficult period.

"I think a lot of people were hoping and praying that Australia would get the World Cup to secure the future of Australian football. But now we are entering a period of uncertainty," he said.

"This is the time that the FFA needs to knuckle down and put more time and energy into the A-League so it can become a successful competition were local football can grow.

"The A-League started off well and now it's going through a lean time. It is definitely not the end of the A-League by any stretch of the imagination, but we do need to make sure that we work hard now so in the coming years the league becomes stronger.''

Bolton suggested that the Gold Coast was a strong team but lacked the community support that the FFA could assist in generating.

"It's disappointing because the Gold Coast are a good team who have worked hard to get to third on the ladder and it's not right that they have to play in front of paltry crowds," he said.

"It's not ideal for us either, we would like to be playing in front of bigger crowds, but it was an away game for us and I have no doubt that when we return to AAMI Park this Wednesday our fans will be there in support."

The 3-0 loss to Gold Coast United on Sunday was the Heart's fourth in three weeks, and resulted in the A-League's newest franchise slipping to sixth on the ladder.

Although three of those five games were at home, Bolton said that travel had not helped the team's performances throughout the season.

"We have travelled all over the shop in the first part of the season. We have been to Port Macquarie, Townsville, Perth and Wellington twice," he said.

"As far as the draw goes we have had the toughest of any team. We have definitely travelled more than anyone else. That's not an excuse that's just the way it is."

Even though several key Heart players including Alex Terra, Michael Marrone and Josip Skoko have been stricken with injury, Bolton avoided placing blame on the club's mid-season misfortunes.

"We have had a lot of injuries and the suspension of Wayne Srhoj was also pivotal. But we have a good squad with good young players, so at the end of the day it falls back on us."

With only a handful of games left in the regular season the Heart goalkeeper realises that his team must rectify the problems that has brought about the past months losses.

"We have to turn it around quickly because games are fast running out, the season hinges on the next few games. These the games we really must win if we want to play finals," he said.

"It is going to take us a bit of time to get together and play the style of football that John (van 't Schip) wants us to play consistently and I think that has shown in our results this season so far."

""There is plenty of room for improvement but we are still in a position where we can challenge for a finals spot, so we have to work hard and I'm sure the results will come."

The Heart have a chance on Saturday to rectify their form slump and gain revenge when they take on the Melbourne Victory in the second derby at AAMI Park. In a game that requires little incentive, Bolton is sure that his team will come to play.

"There is definitely more riding on this game for our boys. For the club it is a bigger game than normal and I only hope that they are coming to play because I sure know we are. It's a massive game in Melbourne and there is a natural rivalry with Victory that makes a great spectacle for the fans."