A-League Expansion

[Jesus]

That seems to be the big issue

 

[skilbeck]

Ground availability might be an issue for MV, Lowy FC, Brisbane and Gold Coast.

i reckon the scum is more of a concern with ground avaliability, in Sydney and Brisbane they have other stadiums they could use i.e. Ballymore and QSAC in Brisbane and in Sydney there is ANZ stadium as well as a quite a few other centralised stadiums

 

[Jesus]

Sydney would be better off playing games at like parra rather than homebush.

 

[thanman]

sure is,
more games the better

and the top 4 go to ACL, the same year not one later

Skilbeck idea is sound.
So is yours mate, but I don't see the FFA agreeing to that one.

They will want money. So they'll jump at more rounds for more income.
But to increase ACL, I think i they do it'll be by 1 more place; and I don't think it's just their call on their own, it'll be all the Football Associations of Asia's decision/ or whoever is in charge of ACL - and FFA would approach them.

 

[skilbeck]

sure is,
more games the better

and the top 4 go to ACL, the same year not one later

we wont get 4 automatic places. we might get 2.5 or 3 (where 3rd and 4th play off against other teams from other countries)

 

[Jimmy]

sure is,
more games the better

and the top 4 go to ACL, the same year not one later

we wont get 4 automatic places. we might get 2.5 or 3 (where 3rd and 4th play off against other teams from other countries)

I thought that the AFC were making it so we ended up with 4 teams in 2009 or 2010?

 

[Jesus]

Buckly is on the panel at afc looking at the ACL. He has hinted strongly that it will be expanded next year to include more teams, mainly from the professional leagues, such as japan and korea. Including another a-league team.

 

[Tassiemariner]

I do remember reading somewhere a while back that the ACL was up for review in 2009 where it would most likely be expanded by 4 teams.

Sorry for forgetting source.

 

[thanman]

It looks like GOLD COAST GALAXY are definately in season 4.

However, there is apparently spits happening within NORTHERN THUNDER's camp.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23300738-5000940,00.html
(Galaxy in orbit as Felipe signs)

 

[meldraco]

Why not try a team down Tassie way. Bit weard I no but why not

 

[Tassiemariner]

Why not try a team down Tassie way. Bit weard I no but why not

No current training infastructure
No Ground to play at
No Goverment support
No Media interest
Don't know whether to play up in Launceston or in Hobart.

 

[thanman]

Why not try a team down Tassie way. Bit weard I no but why not

No current training infastructure
No Ground to play at
No Goverment support
No Media interest
Don't know whether to play up in Launceston or in Hobart.

Know a few people who like soccer in that crazy state.
They either follow us.
Or MV.

 

[Tassiemariner]

Alot of MV supporters and today i saw a guy in a Jets Champions shirt when i was playing down here. .
Found it funny that his mate had to pay for his meat pie as he had no money.

 

[thanman]

Alot of MV supporters and today i saw a guy in a Jets Champions shirt when i was playing down here. .
Found it funny that his mate had to pay for his meat pie as he had no money.

haha nice.. typical bogan.

 

[marinersman]

From today's SMH.

I'm very keen to see a Wollongong team in. Along with Newcastle this is the cradle of Football in Australia. A great nursery for talent harking back to the British coal miner days. I've got no doubt the community down there would turn out in droves and I think would be more successful than Townsville or the Gold Coast.

Plus it's another easy drive to an away match for us.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/wollongong-billionaire-ready-to-bankroll-aleague-bid/2008/03/03/1204402364993.html

Wollongong billionaire ready to bankroll A-League bid
March 4, 2008

RECLUSIVE billionaire Bruce Gordon is believed to be ready to bankroll a Wollongong-based team in the A-League next season if bids from either Gold Coast or North Queensland fall over at the 11th hour.

The 78-year-old owner of WIN Corporation - who splits his time between Bermuda and Wollongong - is believed to have finally agreed in principle to finance an Illawarra team in the A-League after months of speculation. The franchise has been more than a year in the making, and while it had made significant progress in terms of planning, sponsorship and infrastructure, without Gordon's investment the bid has lacked backing. Gordon is no stranger to football - he also headed the consortium which owned Wollongong Wolves in the old NSL.

Gordon's in-principle agreement to finance a home-town team vaults the Illawarra bid into the A-League reckoning - if not for next season, then certainly for 2009. There is also the prospect of football filling a vacuum at WIN Stadium should NRL side St George Illawarra withdraw from the area, as has been suggested.

Football Federation Australia is hoping both Gold Coast and North Queensland will meet the financial criteria for next season by the deadline - which is believed to have been extended to Friday week - but now it has a fallback position if either bid falls short.

The FFA has made it clear it would prefer to expand the league to 10 teams rather than have a bye and a nine-team competition. There are some suggestions the FFA needs to have at least a 10-team league to meet FIFA requirements for a World Cup bid.

Michael Cockerill

 

[FFC Mariner]

Good stuff - piss off N Qld and replace them with an easy away trip.

N Wollongong Hotel (with its V1 Grand Final jumper on display) here we come

 

[bradley]

yeah north queensland wouldn't get a game up there anyway seeing as it always rains up there.

 

[thanman]

yeah north queensland wouldn't get a game up there anyway seeing as it always rains up there.

No different to England really lol

 

[thomas477]

 

[Andy]

If there is another Townsville bid, hopefully we can get rid off that stupid f*cking name, "Northern Queensland Thunder".