The FFA have canned the Sydney Rovers bid for a 12th A-League franchise in western Sydney. With major financial concerns, the writing has been on the wall following the World Cup bid loss in Zurich.
Despite this, the FFA have insisted they remain committed to an A-League franchise in the western suburbs, releasing a statement saying the scrapping of the franchise bid in the region had come through mutual agreement between the peak body and the Sydney Rovers group.
“We have mutually decided this week to move on so FFA can explore other options with the view to starting a team in Sydney’s west as soon as possible,” FFA CEO Ben Buckley said in a statement.
“The Sydney Rovers group has completed a substantial amount of work around dealing with stadia, local government and businesses and they have kindly offered to make that work available to other prospective consortiums.”
Buckley said the FFA was committed to a second Sydney team with other investors.
“We are convinced there is enough support out there for a western Sydney franchise and it is an important part of our vision for the Hyundai A-League,” he said.
The FFA had initially rejected two other bids for a franchise in western Sydney, including the Lucas Neill-backed Sydney Wanderers, in favour of the Rovers.
An ambitious bid led by Saatchi ad boss Ian Rowden, a name identity, and kit were released early in the club’s development.
However, funding concerns less than a year out from their A-League debut were not solved as sufficient backing was still not found.
No official reason was given for the Rovers and the FFA not pushing ahead with the proposed franchise.
sydboz
Guest
Btw people in the west, will never support Sydney FC, NEVER! I hope the FFA have this stamped into their foreheads.
sydboz
Guest
Nobody cares about the Fury. Western Sydney needs a football team, it is the heart and soul of football in Australia, there are 100's of thousands of people here waiting for their football team, not some smurfette team in the city that people have to drive over an hour to even get to and people have no association with. Get your act together FFA. Western Sydney should have had a team years ago. It's the FFA's biggest mistake and disgrace.
macavity
Guest
where do you propose A-league clubs get the $50mil needed to build their own stadium?
RedOrDead
Roar Guru
Well that was no surprise in the end, was it? It was a long time coming. At least now with the scrapping of the Rovers, the FFA will give the Fury another year...support the team that already exists and get rid of the failing bid for a team that never existed, makes logical sense to me....mind you, they still haven't ruled out another consortium taking over which could still see a Western Sydney team playing in the 2011/2012 season! I hope that we stick to our 11 teams for next season too so fixture is reversed, meaning the teams that played 2 home games and 1 away or vice versa against their oposition is balanced out in 2011/2012...I just hope there's a bit more structure to the fixtures next season :-)
NF
Guest
TT So far so good with that $50 but the Fury will bounce back and possibly clich 7th at best never underestimate the Fury. Unfortunate about the Rovers, the FFA need to get there house together.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Finally the FFA makes a decision. Now can we please take these bidding processes more seriously next time? Some people have suggested that any new club must have finances in place, a Stadium deal and links to the local community. I will go a lot further than that and suggest that all future A-League licenses must present a long tern plan the includes -Long term investment strategies and plans, I am no businessman but surely most new corporations need to provide this to get some start up capital. Why should an A-League club be any different? -Start with NYL and W-League teams and ease their way into life. -Plans and finance to build a football centre that the whole of the local football community can access, for education and facilities and where elite squads can train and play, similar what the Mariners have in the works. -Long term plans to build/buy their own football stadium. -Ownership model that includes local business, local football clubs/associations and individuals big and small. I really hate seeing clubs as the play things of the wealthy. Tinkler is doing a good job but he is the exception in my view. - Fair transfer fees and duel contracts for players that come from the local football clubs. Hence if the next Messi does come from a local team they then benefit from it when a big Euro club sends that 30 million euro check down our way. This really should be an FFA thing but more power to a club that gets on the front foot. I am sure that there are other things that people think a new club should have as well, but the main thing is there is a detailed plan looking deep into the future. The existing clubs should be making these plans as well but I am sure they are not. Also, I don't think any club can meet any criteria until the FFA outlines exactly what its plans are for an A1-League and an FFA Cup. How can old NSL clubs invest in an A-League club if they never know whether they have a shot or not at getting into a national comp? Maybe they never invest in one but at least they will know where they stand. And on the cup, can a NWSPL side they has a stake in a Western Sydney A-League club play them in a FFA cup match? I am keen to see the professional and grassroots games come together as right now they are miles apart and it is hurting the game more than anything else.
True Tah
Guest
I hope Fury stick around till the end of the year - I put $50 on them to win the wooden spoon at the start of the season.
Beer O'Clock
Guest
Was always going to happen when Australia lost the World cup bid. They were only kept alive to try and convince FIFA that the A-league was a credible competition. North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast will be next to go. Im guessing by the end of the year.
Derby County FC
Roar Rookie
They were like a blind, old and incontinent sheepdog waiting to be taken out to the back paddock with a 12 bore and put out of their misery. And i'm only saying that because i had such an affection for them.
Mad
Guest
Joke.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
There's scope to bring in new clubs, however, they need to be really sound, not just financially (which the Rovers were not), but also with solid links into the community (unlike GCU), such as real grass roots efforts and a fan base built from the ground up.
Mario
Guest
The FFA needs to sort out the problems with the Fury before they even consider adding another team to the comp. Fury are struggling financially like a few teams in the comp, so starting a new team would be detrimental to the A-League. I doubt there is enough money at the moment to support so many teams that are struggling financially.