South Melbourne to submit bid for A-League licence and seek inclusion in competition from next season

SOUTH Melbourne wants to be part of the A-League and will officially launch a bid for a licence and launch a W-League team at the same time should it gain entry.

SOUTH Melbourne will formally submit a bid for an A-League licence by the end of this month and is seeking inclusion in a revamped competition from next season.

The club plans to play all home games bar derbies at its 15,000-capacity Lakeside Stadium, where it expects to average crowds of more than 10,000 from season one.

Should South Melbourne be the next @ALeague club? https://t.co/2KVxstnpHy @smfc

— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) November 15, 2016

It would concurrently launch a W-League side, retain its presence in the Victorian National Premier League and recruit a high-profile marquee player for the A-League team.

The Herald Sun understands South, which has established a four-person bid advisory board, has the capital required for a licence fee, which is about $5 million.

Its training and administration base would also be at Lakeside, where it has a 40-year lease and needs match attendances of only about 1500 to break even.

South Melbourne A-League advisory board chairman Bill Papastergiadis with bid team members Luisa Chen and Gabrielle Giuliano at Lakeside Stadium. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Its home strip would contain the traditional blue and white worn during the halcyon days of South’s four National Soccer League titles, but the club plans to incorporate its heritage red, white and blue for away matches.

A-League expansion is a hot topic, with Football Federation Australia signalling its intention to add at least two clubs in the near future.

South’s advisory board is chaired by club director and prominent lawyer Bill Papastergiadis.

It also contains the club’s women’s football director, property developer Gabrielle Giuliano, former federal sports minister Andrew Thomson and bid investor Luisa Chen.

Papastergiadis said South, founded in 1959, was ready to go now.

“I don’t think there’s anything holding us back,” he said.

The locker room at South Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“Where we differentiate ourselves from franchise clubs is the stadium deal, the capital we’ve got in support of this bid and the junior development program that we believe is the best in Australia.

“But also, we won’t cannibalise the support of the existing A-League clubs in Melbourne.

“Our advisory board knows the great history of this club, but also has the ability to drive it forward.”

There are no immediate plans to expand Lakeside Stadium’s capacity, but the addition of further seating is possible if required.

Papastergiadis said the W-League component of the bid was just as important as the men’s side.

“It’s essential,” he said. “The important part of this bid is that it brings together men’s, women’s and junior football in the one club.”