Southwest Sydney bids join forces in race for A-league spot

It’s the super bid that could dramatically alter the dynamics in the battle for a place in an expanded A-League.

It’s the joint bid that could dramatically alter the dynamics in the battle for one of the two spots in an expanded A-League for the 2019-20 season.

In a move that had been in the pipeline for some time, the United for Macarthur and South West Sydney groups announced yesterday that they have now joined forces to form a united front, with the bid giving it access to 24,000 registered male and female players, over 70 clubs and 3600 National Premier League players.

The two franchises had originally intended to be stand alone bids and had been named by Football Federation Australia on a short list of 10 candidates earlier this year.

Given the merger, which does not yet have a working name, that list is now down to nine, with FFA expected to name the two successful bids by the end of October. The other contenders are Canberra, Wollongong, Team 11, Western Melbourne Group, South Melbourne, Brisbane City, Western Pride and Southern Expansion.

The general feeling is that FFA is leaning towards the inclusion of a team from Sydney and one from Melbourne in an expanded 12-team competition, with plans to add a further two teams at some point in the future.

Southern Expansion has been regarded as the frontrunner for the NSW spot but that is likely to change with the decision by the two southwest Sydney bids to merge.

Southern Expansion, which covers the St George, Sutherland Shire and Wollongong regions, is on record as saying it doesn’t fear the merger and believes it is still well placed to come out on top.

Macarthur bid chairman Chris Redman described the merger as “a win for the broader region’s community”.

“Both bids from this region were very strong and unity is important as we try to deliver an A-League club for our wonderful and vast region. So, we believe a joining of forces will significantly strengthen the bid,” Redman said.

“One bid, one focus, one club representing the entire community makes sense. We’re stronger together and we’re all delighted with this outcome.”

South West Sydney FC chairman Gino Marra also believes the broader community is the winner from the amalgamation. “This is an important day for the community. We’ve come together in the spirit of unity to help bring A-League football to our region,” he said. “We’re one voice, one community and one region bidding to bring football of the highest level to our part of the world.’’

Former Socceroos Brett Emerton (Macarthur) and Nick Carle (South West Sydney) are ambassadors for the bid, which will play its home games at Campbelltown Stadium if successful.