Western Melbourne looking for marquee player as they aim to be in new stadium by third season

Incoming A-League expansion team Western Melbourne is on the lookout for a marquee player for its debut season in 2019/20 but want one that isn’t just looking for a “superannuation cheque”. Meanwhile, they’ve vowed to be in their new stadium by 2021/22.

Western Melbourne want an Alessandro Del Piero-level marquee player for their first season in the A-League.

Incoming A-League expansion team Western Melbourne has vowed to be in its new stadium by its third season, 2021/22.

It also revealed that an Alessandro Del Piero-level marquee player had been “built into the financial projections” for its debut 2019/20 season, but didn’t want someone coming for a “superannuation cheque”.

Mystery still surrounds the main financial backers of Western Melbourne, in what looms as Australia’s first privately-funded sports stadium.

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Western Melbourne chiefs said inaugural appointments were imminent, of which the coach was an “integral” decision, and revealed they want to house the Matildas at their Tarneit base.

Modelled on a host of US stadiums, bid chiefs said Football Federation Australia bought into their “value capture” vision — a joint partnership between Wyndham City Council and Western Melbourne Group, which they feel can be a trailblazer for Australian stadium models, which are usually government funded.

Western Melbourne want an Alessandro Del Piero-level marquee player for their first season in the A-League.

Western Melbourne director Steve Horvat revealed he’d spoken with former Socceroos teammate and inaugural Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic as they plotted to replicate the Wanderers’ community model, and that they had been talking to prospective players for months.

“We need marquee and international players that speak to the region and the vision we have for the club — we don’t want to bring players here that are coming for a superannuation cheque, we want them working hard and want to build something together,’’ Horvat said.

“Myself and Lou Sticca have been talking to players and potential coaches for months.

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“A coach is going to be an integral appointment in season one. We want people within the organisation that have the same values and want to build something. We don’t want coaches coming here for a year and (moving on).

“We look forward to making some huge announcements, both in player signings, coaches and people running the club.”

Plans were underway to build a “world-class training facility” across the road from the stadium, with talks underway with three to four local venues.

They also believed a deal to play at Kardinia Park next season should be struck “within weeks”.

Concept photo of Western Melbourne's new stadium. Picture: Supplied

They would like to see the “first shovel in the ground” with six months, labelling the stadium “the easy part”, compared to the surrounding infrastructure and services.

Wyndham Council director Kate Roffey, who first met with Horvat 18 months ago, was confident of success.

“It wasn’t an easy sell (to FFA). But it’s a solution for the game in this country. For too long the game has been a tenant,’’ Roffey said.

“We want to be the pride of the west, but it’s not just the west, this model will put the game on the map in this country.”

HOW WESTERN MELBOURNE IS PRIVATELY FUNDING ITS STADIUM

1. Around 60 hectares of land was sold to Western Melbourne Group, who will undertake commercial and residential development.

2. The portion of land where the “elite facilities” (stadium and training base) will sit is an exchange of land between Wyndham City Council and Western Melbourne Group.

3. The profits made from developments will be used to fund the stadium and training base, which Western Melbourne will own and operate.

4. Surrounding infrastructure, including a proposed train line under one kilometre from the stadium, will require government funding.

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