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Newly appointed Cronulla Sharks CEO and former Central Coast and Western Sydney Wanderers boss Lyall Gorman has added fuel to the fire that a Sutherland Shire-based A-League club could be formed in 2017-18.
A-League boss David Gallop mentioned, correctly, that the Shire contains the largest junior participation rate in the game in the Southern Hemisphere, making the area an attractive proposition to host Sydney’s third Sydney-based side.
Gorman mentioned that the Sharks could have an A-League wing of the organisation up and running by 2017. Meanwhile, Sportsbet have installed Cronulla $2 favourites to host any newly created A-League franchise.
The Sharks, who own Remondis Stadium, would be silly not to at least look at the opportunity to host A-League fixtures, given that their stadium is not in use for half of the year.
The extra revenue generated by home fixtures and the league’s club takings would ensure the newly established Woolooware Bay precinct is in high use all year around.
In terms of the Sharks, the bid would be a no-brainer, however I truly believe that if there was to be a third Sydney side admitted into the A-League, it should be based further south.
I’d like to see a side based in either Wollongong or Canberra admitted into the competition.
Canberra have success in the past in their NRL and Super Rugby sides, as well as their reigning W-League premiership team. Wollongong have a rich history in the old NSL through the Wolves.
Both areas would surely benefit from A-League sides, while both have the stadiums and supporter bases to support the potential sides. The majority of A-League fans within the Shire are already supporting Sydney FC, while pockets support the Wanderers, and other sides nationwide.
I’m not sure how many fans would jump ship so to speak if a Cronulla-based side was created. Would Cronulla be southern enough to draw fans from Wollongong and further South? Why take that risk when you could allocate the side to that area to begin with?
Surely Cronulla could host a few home fixtures, which would likely draw any potential fans into the league. I’d allocate the majority of home games to WIN stadium in Wollongong, and have maybe three or four take place at Remondis in Cronulla.
The idea of a Cronulla side was also suggested to draw in fans within the Kogarah area. Once again, I believe the location is too close to the established Sydney FC fan-base, while I doubt too many Dragons fans would be willing to wear A-League jerseys with anything resembling a Shark.
If I were on the expansion committee, my vote would be for either a Canberra-based side, or a team based in the Gong, with one third of its fixtures played at Cronulla. I wouldn’t think there’d be enough fans willing to travel to Remondis each and every week.
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