Battle intensifies for 12th A-League spot
In what has been one of the most vigorously contested expansion processes in the history of Australian professional sport, Football Federation Australia is due to grant the 12th licence for a new A-League team in the next fortnight.
The introduction of Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury for version five of the competition has created a huge buzz among the football community while a second Melbourne franchise has already been handed a provisional 11th licence for the 2010/11 season.
In deciding which consortium will score the latest licence up for grabs, the governing body has number of issues to consider.
Such as:
:: whether they will seek to establish a foothold in Western Sydney before the cashed-up AFL and ARU establish teams in the region
:: the possibility that Wellington Phoenix will not be part of the A-League after season 2009/10
:: whether Canberra, the South Coast and Tasmania have the capacity in terms of support and commercial strength to support a national franchise in the long-term.
TWG understands that the FFA set Friday 24 July as the deadline for all bidders to submit their bid documents.
Here is an overview of the bidders, which include three from Western Sydney and one each from Canberra, the South Coast of NSW and Tasmania.
Canberra Bid
Backed by ACT Government and developed by local businessman Ivan Slavich.
Home ground: Canberra Stadium
Team name: Believed to be Canberra United like existing W-League team
Focus point: Strong relationship with Football Canberra and ACT Government with a heavy focus on football within the ACT community.
Strengths: Strong football region, home of AIS and excellent stadium.
Drawbacks: Inability to attract and retain players, coaches and executives to the ACT, poor commercial strength and the failure of three previous national football clubs and struggling NRL and Super 14 teams.
South Coast Bid
Backed by local South Coast community and developed by local businessman Eddy De Gabriele.
Home ground: WIN Stadium and ANZ Stadium
Team name: Working title South Coast Football, to be decided by the public
Focus point: A focus on South Coast community including a radical plan to include Western Sydney within its territory.
Strengths: Strong football region with no dedicated South Coast only football team in any code.
Drawbacks: Inability to attract and retain players, coaches and executives to the South Coast. Poor state of WIN Stadium and smallish population base of 900,000 in its catchment area.
Tasmanian Bid
Backed by Tasmanian Government and Football Tasmania and developed by local businessman John McGirr
Home ground: Unknown. Currently no quality football specific stadiums in Tasmania
Team name: Tasmania United FC
Focus point: First Tasmanian-based professional football team in Australia.
Strengths: Energetic bid to host a national professional football team.
Drawbacks: Inability to attract and retain players, coaches and executives to Tasmania. Questionable support for football and relatively small population, of 500,000, and limited commercial strength.
Western Sydney Bid
Backed by Socceroos captain Lucas Neill as founder and developed by his Australian-based agent Paddy Dominguez
Home ground: Parramatta Stadium
Team name: Believed to be developed but not yet released to public
Focus point: Strong business case with a focus on history of football in Sydneys Greater West and embracement of the 14 regional councils making up the geographical region. Strong focus on accessibility and affordability for fans.
Strengths: Strong football region with a population of 1.8 million people. Sydneys ability to attract and retain players, coaches and executive, commercial strength of Sydney and focussed on relationship with football community. Stadium regarded as best football surface in Australia by Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek.
Drawbacks: Parramatta Stadium capacity is only 22,000 and will need to consider alternative larger venue for certain 'marquee' matches.
Western Sydney Bid
Backed by colourful 1970s Sydney identity Joe Meissner and developed by ex-Marconi Stallions coach, Berti Mariani
Home ground: ANZ Stadium and Penrith Stadium
Team name: Greater Sydney FC
Focus point: Relationship with football in Sydneys Greater West, especially with Penrith Nepean District United (NSW Premier League), Blacktown City Demons Soccer Club and Penrith Panthers Leagues Club (NRL).
Strengths: Strong football region with a population of 1.8 million people. World-class stadium with a capacity of over 80,000. Sydneys ability to attract and retain players, coaches and executive, commercial strength of Sydney and focussed on relationship with football community.
Drawbacks: Use of ANZ Stadium, which is not well considered by Western Sydney football fans and association with Penrith Panthers NRL club could alienate fans. Seemed to have ignored the traditional football community of Parramatta, Fairfield and Liverpool.
Western Sydney Bid
Backed and developed by player agent, Chris Tanner
Home ground: ANZ Stadium
Team name: Premier State FC
Focus point: Business case where junior football clubs in Western Sydney inject capital and then receive distribution of profits from the club.
Strengths: Strong football region with a population of 1.8 million people. World-class stadium with a capacity of over 80,000. Sydneys ability to attract and retain players, coaches and executive, and commercial strength of Sydney.
Drawbacks: Use of ANZ Stadium, which is not well considered by Western Sydney football fans. That publicised radical and contemporary business model to include traditional football clubs in Western Sydney as investors, as most financial backers of A-League clubs have lost money to date.
MOD EDIT - added quotes to show what's what, hard to tell what's going on otherwise.
