A-League threads [Merged]

[Ian4]

seems to be a lot of talk about expansion at the minute. no doubt this has to do with the recent visit by FIFA and the TV rights currently under negotiation. some are saying as early as next season, but I would highly doubt that (10 months notice is not long enough of a lead-in time).

I don't think the FFA will seriously consider south Melbourne in the short term, but I do think its a certainty they will be admitted at some point. they have the financial backing to do it and they are have the structure and infrastructure required already in place.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/south-melbourne-to-submit-bid-for-aleague-licence-and-seek-inclusion-in-competition-from-next-season/news-story/47d0f45da08a932c2c11cb95a52a9b4e

South Melbourne to submit bid for A-League licence and seek inclusion in competition from next season
MATT WINDLEY, EXCLUSIVE, Herald Sun, November 14, 2016 8:00pm

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.

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.

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.

“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.”

 

[Sir Tiger]

My understanding is that when the A-League was initially being formulated, Harry Stamoulis offered to put up the (I think) $10M initially required for a licence on behalf of South Melbourne, but on condition that he put his people in charge of the club. The club rejected this as they wanted to retain control. They probably regret that now.

I have mixed feeling about letting South in. Yes they have a fair supporter base, but I know a lot of Victory members that are also South supporters, so I wonder if it will dilute the membership ? Derbies would be a cracker though !!

I would rather see expansion in Geelong first, with ultimately 12-14 tams in the A-league, and then a B-League with promotion-relegation when the league is big enough to manage it. Definitely need to expand soon though, as it's getting a little boring watching the same 10 teams compete. Also I've never liked a top six finals in a ten team comp, too easy to make the finals.

 

[AngryAnt]

I'd love to see Hellas South Melbourne in the comp myself. Would be a real connection back to the NSL days and adds more derby games to the calendar. Plus, they have a rich heritage and I'm sure would be competitive pretty quickly.

Agree that 6/10 make the finals is a farce.

 

[Sir Tiger]

and the FFA's anti-flares policy would get a fair hammering

 

[Smoking Aces]

Would love to see South back in.

For me it would be like Richmond being kicked out of the AFL but reinstated many years later.

Unfortunately I cant see it happening. No room for efniks in the A-League.

 

[joegarra]

Victory's away game to Wellington this week has been postponed. Hope they are OK in NZ

 

[Ian4]

My understanding is that when the A-League was initially being formulated, Harry Stamoulis offered to put up the (I think) $10M initially required for a licence on behalf of South Melbourne, but on condition that he put his people in charge of the club. The club rejected this as they wanted to retain control. They probably regret that now.

did not know that, but it doesn't surprise me considering the FFA initially had a lot of trouble raising the capital from investors for the initial Melbourne franchise.

I have mixed feeling about letting South in. Yes they have a fair supporter base, but I know a lot of Victory members that are also South supporters, so I wonder if it will dilute the membership ? Derbies would be a cracker though !!

I would rather see expansion in Geelong first, with ultimately 12-14 tams in the A-league, and then a B-League with promotion-relegation when the league is big enough to manage it. Definitely need to expand soon though, as it's getting a little boring watching the same 10 teams compete. Also I've never liked a top six finals in a ten team comp, too easy to make the finals.

I have a couple of mates that are likely to go back to south but I suspect that most are now fully integrated after 12 years. I also believe Geelong should be the next VIC team, but I suspect the suits in Sydney will need google maps to find out where it is.

Victory's away game to Wellington this week has been postponed. Hope they are OK in NZ

I hope they're OK as well. feel for some of the people I know who were heading across the ditch.

 

[Harry]

Hellas? Bring back Croatia, Marconi and Olympic as well.

Geelong Wollongong Tasmania Canberra West Adelaide seem the logical options.

 

[Ian4]

should do a poll on who people think the next expansion clubs should be. seems to be a bit of a hot topic atm. personally I think it should be Canberra and Geelong, but I highly doubt it will be. The Tassie one is interesting because they seem to have a lot of money behind them, government support and North Hobart oval would make for a reasonable stadium for the sport (and wouldn't take a lot to renovate it into a rectangular stadium).

 

[Harry]

Would say sth sydney, wollongong, tassie, canberra and brisbane strikers would have a better chance than geelong.

My guess for the next 2 licenses would be sth sydney and tassie.

Here in melb first thing we need is to get rid of etihad and either expand aami or build a 45k seat rectangle stadium.

 

[Sir Tiger]

I hope Geelong and Tassie, but I reckon Wollongong and Brisbane will get it.

 

[Ian4]

Here in melb first thing we need is to get rid of etihad and either expand aami or build a 45k seat rectangle stadium.

I always considered 2025 to be the deadline for the completion of AAMI park expansion as that's when Victory's contract at Etihad expires. but now that the AFL has purchased Etihad, this needs to be fast tracked. you would hope that the club (plus the FFA and City) is already in the ear of the state government about this.

 

[Harry]

I always considered 2025 to be the deadline for the completion of AAMI park expansion as that's when Victory's contract at Etihad expires. but now that the AFL has purchased Etihad, this needs to be fast tracked. you would hope that the club (plus the FFA and City) is already in the ear of the state government about this.

Did they allow scope for expansion when they built it? Can't see how they make it bigger without a major knockdown and rebuild

 

[AngryAnt]

The only time AAMI is sold out is for the Derby or finals, so can't really see the business case for expansion.

 

[Ian4]

Did they allow scope for expansion when they built it? Can't see how they make it bigger without a major knockdown and rebuild

yeah the original structures were reinforced enough to allow expansion to 50,000. the main issue is the wave roof. you would have to dismantle it, build up and then put it back in place. its very cost and time prohibitive.

The only time AAMI is sold out is for the Derby or finals, so can't really see the business case for expansion.

I can. infact I reckon a 30,000 capacity stadium is stunting our growth. we've been around the 26-27000 member mark for the past 3 years. we can't really grow much more without a bigger stadium.

but the biggest case is this: If AAMI park is upgraded to 45,000+, I reckon the stadium can be turned into Australia's version of Wembley. all the big matches can be played here... including Socceroos matches, as the acoustics would create an intimidating atmosphere for visiting countries. I really do believe it could become the home of football in Australia.

Yes, yes, the suits in Sydney would resist, but they also know that AAMI Park is the premier football stadium in the country (that's why the FFA cup final is being played there after all). if the state government went to the FFA and offered to fund the upgrade on the proviso that the ALeague GF and 2 world cup qualifiers per qualifying phase were held there for the next 20 years.... well you'd have to say that's a tempting offer for all parties.

 

[Harry]

Yep Ange was pushing for a bigger ground to play socceroo games at. Also thinks we need it to grow the a league

 

[Smoking Aces]

I hope Geelong and Tassie, but I reckon Wollongong and Brisbane will get it.

None of those teams should be considered.

Should be another team in Adelaide and South Melbourne.

South Melbourne is ready now. Heads and shoulders above all clubs in terms of finances, membership, ground, junior set up than probably all teams currently in the A League excluding Victory.

 

[Ian4]

None of those teams should be considered.

Should be another team in Adelaide and South Melbourne.

South Melbourne is ready now. Heads and shoulders above all clubs in terms of finances, membership, ground, junior set up than probably all teams currently in the A League excluding Victory.

you're spot on about south Melbourne. I don't think people truly understand the financial clout their owners have. 100% they will be admitted one day, but I just don't believe the FFA will pick them this time around. I'll be pretty shocked (and happy) if they do.

have to say I disagree about Adelaide. Sydney FC aside, Adelaide united have been very disappointing when it comes to pulling crowds and members. they have just broke their membership record on the back of just winning the title, but its still only 9,000. Hindmarsh is a great little stadium... they should be selling it out every week and putting pressure on their state government to expand.

 

[Smoking Aces]

you're spot on about south Melbourne. I don't think people truly understand the financial clout their owners have. 100% they will be admitted one day, but I just don't believe the FFA will pick them this time around. I'll be pretty shocked (and happy) if they do.

have to say I disagree about Adelaide. Sydney FC aside, Adelaide united have been very disappointing when it comes to pulling crowds and members. they have just broke their membership record on the back of just winning the title, but its still only 9,000. Hindmarsh is a great little stadium... they should be selling it out every week and putting pressure on their state government to expand.

Sadly I agree about South Melbourne not gaining entry. Until there is a Lowey in the FFA it won't happen.

Funny how Frank Lowey wants nothing to do with the old NSL even though his current club Sydney FC is a carbon copy of his old club Sydney City.

With Adelaide point taken.

I wonder if expanding into Asia will be an option?

 

[Ian4]

Sadly I agree about South Melbourne not gaining entry. Until there is a Lowey in the FFA it won't happen.

actually I thought about it yesterday and if the speculation about 2 teams being admitted next season to coincide with the new TV deal is true... then the 2 teams with the best chance of being ready by then are the 2 teams that are already established... south Melbourne and Wollongong.

I wonder if expanding into Asia will be an option?

definitely. that's the future.