One Melbourne club tipped to earn A-League licence ahead of expansion in 2019-20
AT least 15 A-League hopefuls are vying to join the A-League. And with a Melbourne club tipped to earn a golden ticket, DAVID DAVUTOVIC reports the race is heating up. HAVE YOUR SAY
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THE race to become Melbourne’s next professional soccer club will intensify this week when A-League chiefs mull over formal expansion submissions.
NSL giants South Melbourne ignited much of the expansion talk while Team 11, the bid representing Victoria’s south-east region, has made recent statements headlined by a boutique stadium next to Dandenong train station.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE 15 A-LEAGUE HOPEFULS
Western Melbourne is on the verge of releasing their plans, which is also expected to include a proposed new stadium.
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Meanwhile former Victory chairman Geoff Lord was submitting a bid under his company Belgravia Leisure among 15 nationwide bids as part of Football Federation Australia’s formal expansion process.
A-League clubs’ (APFCA) chairman Greg Griffin told the Herald Sun that Melbourne and Sydney were the favoured expansion options among the existing 10 clubs, with the players union also calling for a second division to be placed in the agenda.
PFA chief John Didulica called for the game to be bold with the unprecedented interest potentially injecting over $1 billion into the game (FFA’s current revenues are around $115 million per year).
South Melbourne bid chairman Bill Papastergiadis said the club’s rich NSL history and existing infrastructure were keys.
“South Melbourne is arguably Australia’s most successful football club. We are ready now,” he said.
“What sets South Melbourne apart from most bids is that it has an exclusive 40-year lease, on excellent terms, of the boutique state of the art Lakeside Stadium and it’s the only one from Victoria which boasts such a boutique football ground.
“The facilities also include South Melbourne’s own social club (300-seater) futsal centre, club museum and administrative offices.
“With over 9000 members and arguably the best public transport infrastructure to service the stadium, we’re best placed to serve the growing population of Melbourne.
“Add the fact that our men’s and women’s junior teams have won practically all the titles in the NPL, we are ‘fit and prepared’.”
Team 11 project officer Matt Windley said the south-east bid was “more than a football bid”.
“There’s 1.5 million people in the south-east that don’t have a professional club training and playing here,” Windley said.
“A stadium in Dandenong would be a community hub with greater usage than just football and the Casey Fields academy will provide a pathway to professionalism that has never existed here.
“So many of our local clubs — at all levels — are incredibly supportive.
“The sport has the ability to unite what is one of the most multicultural regions in the country like nothing else can.”
Expression of Interests (EOIs) are due Thursday.
THE CONTENDERS
Below, Herald Sun football expert DAVID DAVUTOVIC lists the hopefuls, and gives his take on those hoping to join the big time.
VICTORIA
“TEAM 11” (SOUTH-EAST VICTORIA)
Population: 1,500,000
Stadium: New stadium next to Dandenong Station (Casey Fields training base)
Products: Vince Grella, Eugene Galekovic, Jackson Irvine, Bailey Wright, Scott McDonald
Dream signing: Jackson Irvine
Shrewd signing: Scott McDonald
Ideal coach: Harry Kewell/Ante Milicic
Local councils (Greater Dandenong, Casey, Cardinia Shire), local businesses.
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: A clear geographic divide from Victory and City plus a massive football supporter/player base to work with in a region deprived of a professional club.
SOUTH MELBOURNE
Membership: 9100
Stadium: Lakeside Stadium (12,000)
Products: Ange Postecoglou, Paul Trimboli, Con Boutsianis, George Christopoulos
Dream signing: Andreas Samaris
Shrewd signing: Georgios Samaras
Ideal coach: John Anastasiadis
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: The four-time NSL champions are eager to return to the national stage and have made some serious noise for the past two years. Lakeside Stadium is a picturesque home.
WESTERN MELBOURNE
Population: 1,000,000
Stadium: Proposed new 15,000-seat stadium in Wyndham
Products: Josip Skoko, Mathew Leckie, Matthew Spiranovic, Steve Horvat
Dream signing: Matthew Spiranovic
Shrewd signing: Adrian Leijer
Ideal coach: Josip Skoko
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: Repositioned as a western Melbourne club after emanating as a Geelong-based bid. A newly built stadium will be the cornerstone in this fast growing corridor.
BELGRAVIA LEISURE
Population: 4,000,000 (Melbourne)
Stadium: TBC
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: Former Melbourne Victory chairman Geoff Lord, who was linked to Wollongong Wolves, is believed to be launching an 11th hour bid from Melbourne.
TASMANIA
Population: 520,000
Stadium: North Hobart Oval (18,000)
Dream signing: Tim Cahill
Shrewd signing: Nathaniel Atkinson
Ideal coach: Harry Kewell
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: Bankrolled by former Victory shareholders Robert Belteky and Harry Stamoulis, the Tasmania bid has government support amid the AFL’s reluctance to enter.
NSW
SOUTH-WEST SYDNEY (LIVERPOOL)
Population: 550,000
Stadium: TBC
Dream signing: Mario Balotelli
Shrewd signing: Mile Jedinak
Ideal coach: Ante Milicic/Mark Rudan
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: An exclusively local-based consortium, which is negotiating to buy a share in Wellington Phoenix, with financial backing and headed by Gino Marra.
MACARTHUR BID (CAMPBELLTOWN)
Population: 550,000
Stadium: Campbelltown Sports Ground (20,000)
Dream signing: Fernando Torres
Shrewd signing: Tomi Juric
Ideal coach: Ante Milicic/Mark Rudan
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: Although a slight geographic divide from the above bid, a merger appears logical. Backed by billionaire property developer Lang Walker, with Socceroos great Brett Emerton joining as ambassador.
SOUTHERN EXPANSION (SUTHERLAND-ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA)
Population: 750,000
Stadium: Shark Park (22,000), Jubilee Oval Kogarah (20,000), WIN Stadium Wollongong (23,000)
Dream signing: Andres Iniesta
Shrewd signing: Daniel Arzani
Ideal coach: Harry Kewell
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: Former Socceroo Craig Foster and ex-NSW premier Morris Iemma headline the group backed by Hong Kong-listed investors, Jiayuan property group, who want to build their own stadium.
WOLLONGONG WOLVES
Population: 320,000
Stadium: WIN Stadium (23,000)
Dream signing: Adam Federici
Shrewd signing: Luke Wilkshire
Ideal coach: Nick Theodorakopoulos
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: The former NSL champions are in the midst of a turf war with Southern Expansion over the Illawarra region. But the crowds have showed up for FFA Cup games.
ACT
CANBERRA
Population: 400,000
Stadium: Canberra Stadium (25,000)
Dream signing: Tom Rogic
Shrewd signing: Keisuke Honda
Ideal coach: Josip Simunic
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: Launching a late bid, and believed to have private Canberra-based backers. Many hold the view that Australia’s capital should have A-League representation.
QUEENSLAND
BRISBANE CITY
Membership: 2000
Stadium: Ballymore Stadium (19,000 — needs to be redeveloped)
Dream signing: Gianluigi Buffon
Shrewd signing: Kenny Dougall
Ideal coach: Thomas Broich
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: Led by well-connected former politician Robert Cavallucci (below), Brisbane City has claims to being the strongest bid from Queensland, although much hinges on a Ballymore redevelopment.
GOLD COAST UNITED
Membership: 1200
Stadium: Robina Stadium (27,000 capacity)
Dream signing: Tommy Oar
Shrewd signing: Michael Thwaite
Ideal coach: Paul Okon
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: Remnants of the defunct Gold Coast United, although it has nothing to do with Clive Palmer. Same colours, similar logo and a core of fans who want to return to the A-League.
WESTERN PRIDE/IPSWICH
Membership: 1400
Stadium: Revamped North Ipswich Reserve (currently 5000 capacity)
Dream signing: Neil Kilkenny
Shrewd signing: Dylan Wenzel-Halls
Ideal coach: Mike Mulvey
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: Queensland’s reigning NPL champions, who went quiet amid a local political scandal, but they made be launching an 11th hour bid backed by foreign investors.
WA
FREMANTLE
Population: 40,000 / Members: 1100
Stadium: nib Stadium (20,500)
Dream signing: Gianluigi Buffon
Shrewd signing: Brad Jones
Ideal coach: Fabio Capello
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: Fremantle would create a geographic divide and the new Perth Stadium (to be completed in 2018) will be ideal for derbies. Long-term they would look at redeveloping Fremantle Oval.
SA
ADELAIDE II
Population: 1.3 million
Stadium: Coopers Stadium (15,000)
Dream signing: Andres Iniesta
Shrewd signing: Franck Ribery
Ideal coach: Aurelio Vidmar
DAVID DAVUTOVIC SAYS: West Adelaide has submitted a bid, with fellow former NSL club Adelaide City keen to pursue a spot in the second division.
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