Sydney FC tie up recruitment deal with Wollongong Wolves

Sydney FC make another move to isolate prospective A-League club Southern Expansion.

Terry Antonis of Melbourne Victory and Milos Ninkovic of Sydney FC wait for a corner kick at a sold-out Jubliee Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

Sydney FC have established ­another battle line in their opposition to A-League hopefuls Southern Expansion after announcing a memorandum of understanding to promote soccer in the Illawarra and South Coast region of NSW.

In yet another clear message that hardens their stance against Southern Expansion joining the national competition, Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow also gave unqualified support for former National Soccer League club Wollongong Wolves to bid for “a stand-alone A-League licence in the years to come”.

The club said the agreement would facilitate “the Wolves becoming a feeder club for the Sky Blues and further cements the long-running relationship”.

As well, it would “provide an improved pathway into the professional game for elite players from the area”.

Barlow did not let the opportunity slip to take a pointed dig at the expansion bid, declaring Sydney FC now “has existing agreements with the St George, Sutherland Shire and Wollongong regions” to further develop the game at the grassroots.

Sydney FC and Southern Expansion have been trading barbs since the latter joined the race for inclusion in a revamped national competition 18 months ago. Football Federation Australia’s board will meet next month and is expected to bring two franchises into an expanded 12-team competition for 2019-2020.

Southern Expansion remain confident they will fill one spot. Under their proposal, they will service soccer in the St George, Sutherland Shire and Wollongong regions. They intend to split their home matches between Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah, Shark Park in Cronulla and Wollongong’s WIN Stadium.

In a stinging attack six months ago, Barlow described Southern Expansion’s bid as “deeply flawed” and said the Sky Blues were “strongly opposed” to them coming in.

Southern Expansion’s chairman, former NSW premier Morris Iemma, hit back, labelling Barlow’s comments “a pathetic, panicked ­response from an arrogant, complacent and lazy club that have sat back for 14 years, failed to engage and failed to grow the game, and have only ever whinged about anybody entering the competition”.

The war of words continued on Sunday when Barlow addressed guests at the chairman’s lunch before the game against Melbourne Victory at Jubilee Oval. The game was sold out before kick-off and attracted more than 19,000 to the suburban ground. While he did not mention their potential rivals by name, Barlow left no doubt he was taking aim at them.

“To sell out our first home game at Jubilee Stadium demonstrates how deeply connected we are to the football community in this region,” he said.

“The southern regions of Sydney, including St George and Sutherland, have always been vital parts of our heartland, and this massive show of support by our fans in this region proves that once again.”

Southern Expansion chief executive Chris Gardiner responded by suggesting the big crowd “proved the power of its bid and its local stadiums strategy”. “This is exactly what we’ve said would happen, bringing the A-League to local Southern stadiums,” he said in a statement that infuriated Sydney officials.