AFA director Gary Scott outlines vision for Tony Cecco Field if Italo-Australian Club move transpires

ACADEMY of Football Australia director Gary Scott has outlined his vision for Tony Cecco Field if the potential switch to the Italo-Australian Club becomes reality.

ACADEMY of Football Australia director Gary Scott has outlined his vision for Tony Cecco Field if the potential switch to the Italo-Australian Club becomes reality.

As the Italo-Australian Club weighs its next move following the withdrawal of Oak Tree Group’s development application at the Clear Island Waters site, Scott will meet with committee member Bruno Tomasov in the coming days to discuss making their temporary training agreement a permanent one.

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Scott has spoken openly about his desire for the AFA to make the move from Nerang’s Glennon Park and already has a plan in mind to help the academy step up its professionalism.

“Obviously they’ve got the main pitch there (at the Italo-Australian Club) but they’ve got the smaller pitches on the outside of it and I said to Bruno one of them really should be a three-quarter sized Astroturf pitch,” Scott said.

AFA director Gary Scott. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“And you could open it up to international teams coming over too. A couple of years ago Man City came over and went to Royal Pines golf course and set up a training centre there.

“They had to bring a couple of marquees in to put all their training gear in and all their strength and conditioning equipment in. You could set the club up like that so it’s full on, as long as the pitch is up to standard and you’ve got an Astroturf pitch in there.

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“They’ve also got that indoor bocce centre there and that could be used as some sort of gymnasium for strength and conditioning too for overseas people and/or AFA. But obviously it’s going to take huge investment.”

While eager to remain affiliated with Nerang, Scott said the growing number of players at the Eagles could force the academy’s hand.

“Our biggest problem with Nerang is it’s a growing club - it’s an old club but it’s growing. This year there were 400 kids and next year’s there going to be more, so for us to bring the best out of the kids (at the AFA) we have to have an area that’s got everything for the kids to reach their potential.

“It’s an ideal location (at the Italo-Australian Club).”

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With the AFA’s training agreement at Tony Cecco Field expiring on December 20, Scott said he hoped a decision on the 2019 season would be reached by Christmas.

Tomasov said resurrecting the historic Merrimac club remained an option at the site, either next year or in 2020.