They’ve graced the TV screens of Australian football fans for years, now Craig Foster and Les Murray are attempting to bring a new A-League club into the competition.
The duo are at the forefront of a new A-League bid that would see a new south Sydney-based club join Australia’s top footballing tier. The new side would cover the St George, Sutherland and South Coast associations.
While the A-League has often struggled for outside investment in its clubs, the new bid has the financial backing and clout of Chinese property group JiaYuan International Group.
Murray is the chairman of the bid’s steering group, while Foster is head of football.
“This is a very exciting day in Australian football,” Murray said. “What we have in mind is to bring best quality professional football to a vast, diverse region full of football tradition and history.”
The FFA said last week that A-League expansion will not occur before the 2018-19 season, however Murray said the group is happy to be patient and wait until there is an available spot in the competition for a new team.
“We note and understand the FFA’s preferred timing on expansion. We are not impatient and are content to wait until expansion is given the go ahead. But when it does, we will be ready. We are also confident that a club from our vast market of fans and players will heavily benefit the existing A-League and W-League clubs in the transition process.”
Unsurprisingly for such a well-known advocate of grassroots development, Foster said the side would have strong pathways for junior footballers in the region to make their way to the professional side.
“Engagement with our grassroots partners is at the heart of the club,” he said.
“Parents will be pleased to know that in this club, females and males are equal, and our Academy will include both girls and boys from the beginning at no cost to the players and the region’s juniors will have a direct pathway to their own A-League and W-League teams.
“Our shared vision is to become the strongest football region in the country in every aspect, administration, infrastructure, development and professional success.”
The group also has the support of former NSW PCYC chief executive Chris Gardiner, who is the bid’s chief executive. Gardiner said a focus on more derbies would give the new club strong involvement from its local fan-base.
“A southern team will provide six more A-League derbies and four more W-League derbies each season,” he said.
“Our new club means players in the three local football associations finally have their own local A-League and W-League teams after not having a presence in the top flight since the NSL.
“Matches will be shared equally between our three partner associations with plans for a purpose built football stadium underway for the longer term. This will deliver approximately eight professional games in each area so that everyone has an opportunity to see Southern play.”
It is not known what impact the bid will have on National Premier Leagues side the Wollongong Wolves, the club which has been at the heart of a number of calls for the creation of an additional A-League side based in the Illawarra.
Chris
Guest
Geez...if you've been to Barton Park you'll know its a horrendous place for football. I've coached teams there and watched football there. When a plane is flying overhead (every 3mins) you basically cant hear or say anything. They might sound proof the stadium?
Onside
Guest
Some perspective from an old FART (Football Australia's Real Targets).Think 50 years time. Not long. The Melbourne Olympics 1956 ,was only 61 years ago. The Vietnam War finished in 1975, just 42 years ago. In 50 years time the A-League could conceivably have 10 teams in NSW . .............enjoy the journey
stu
Guest
Punter, the differential between playing numbers and those watching on TV and at the games is a reasonable indicator that most playing the game do not necessarily follow the game. What would your take be on this?
j binnie
Guest
Punter - Living in the 80's???? Here ,doing the same exercise, are the figures on the current HAL season. Round 3, Biggest crowd 14,908 Lowest crowd 7073 Round 11 Biggest crowd 24,706 Lowest crowd 5642 Round 15 Biggest crowd 11,271 Lowest crowd 6449 Round 21 Biggest crowd 13,310 Lowest crowd 5974 Have things changed much in 30 years?. Bigger crowds for sure,"better" differentials for sure.but still large enough to cause problems down the track. Have we to wait until then before action is taken.? Cheers jb
punter
Guest
Yes swaying that way or Canberra.
punter
Guest
'in reality most play the game for non contact fitness then settle in to watch a game of nrl/afl.' Living in the 80s.
stu
Guest
Can't agree more. The most forceful 'just do it' comments are typical of a Saturday night BBQ after a few cold ones. If the ideas were implemented and failure is swift, the focus will again be on FFA as to why they let it happen. Many have an inflated view of where the game sits in Australian culture. Many use the argument that 'x' number of players play the game so therefore success is assured when in reality most play the game for non contact fitness then settle in to watch a game of nrl/afl. Failure is the greatest teacher followed closely by history.
j binnie
Guest
With all this talk of expansion and the creation of more "derby" games as the potential saviour of the HAL I would point out to our younger contributors that in seasons ' 85 & '86 of the NSL all these suggestions were put into place. trumpeting the promise of great improvement all round. Two "conferences" North and South were set up, the North league consisting of 12 teams, 8 of whom were based in districts in greater Sydney, with four other "also rans" 2 from Canberra ,Newcastle and Woolongong. The Southern conference had a similar make up with 8 teams based in Greater,Melbourne with 2 Brisbane and 2 Adelaide teams rounding off the dozen. So the scene was set and everyone waited with bated breath for the promised improvements for it was obvious there was going to be plenty of "derby" games in both Sydney and Melbourne some influenced by ethnics, and some by hoped for district rivalry. I've taken 4 samples from each league during both seasons to pass on the "improvements" to readers. 1985 Round 3 Biggest crowd 4166 Lowest crowd 150 Round 11 Biggest crowd 5028 Lowest crowd 825 Round 15 Biggest crowd 8420 Lowest crowd 150 Round 21 Biggest Crowd 8252 Lowest crowd 643 1986 Round 3 Biggest crowd 6233 Lowest crowd 348 Round 11 Biggest crowd 5000 Lowest crowd 653 Round 15 Biggest crowd 4816 Lowest crowd 674 Round 21 Biggest crowd 6043 Lowest crowd 303. During these 2 seasons Apia (Sydney) and Footscray (Melbourne) dropped out of their respective "conferences",not relegated as such but more for financial reasons. A look at those crowds would explain their concern The ruling body of the time ASF also noted and the idea was scrapped after 2 seasons.. What is to be learned from these figures.Simply, great care has to be taken when assessing purported "improvements". Cheers jb.
Lionheart
Guest
GC already have a beautiful and under utilized stadium. Post Commonwealth Games they'll have some of the best sports facilities in Oz. And to be fair, they do produce more than a fair share of our sporting stars. I hope they get a team back, with an owner prepared to work with the community and not fight with them like their previous owner.
Midfielder
Guest
RBB I think you are right and its got totally out of their control... my post was about Paul inferring the southern bid was planned by FFA... and my commenting well how like did Gallop approach Fozzie and Les .... Yes I cannot agree more FFA have totally f******ed this up ...
Lionheart
Guest
Seems to me that SFC supporters are scared they'll lose supporters, of whom they have not too many.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Boot the nix and replace with Tassie.
RBBAnnonymous
Guest
The FFA doesn't want them. They created this monster and they want to put it back in the box. The only reason they brought up expansion was to get more out of the TV deal. C'mon Middy even you know that. They were supposed to release criteria and they told clubs not to bother with submissions because the FFA didn't want them to waste time and resources. Now there is no criteria and there will be no expansion.
punter
Guest
I too am confused Nemesis. Just do not understand it. If people from Woolongong don't jump on board then let them either follow another team or wait till they turn comes either via Div 2 or a new team. But 11 & 12 will not be a Woolongong stand alone side.
punter
Guest
Fairly strong observation there, not too far from the truth. With a Div 2 being thrown in over the next few years as well with some of the other bidders.
punter
Guest
Love Empire of the sun & his other work with Sleepy Jackson. Haven't heard enough. Never heard this though, very Pink Floyd.
Midfielder
Guest
Very wise Paul ... very wise ... I can see how clever you are .... You never answer my questions.. Simple one .. If they are so inept ... why do roughly 17 bidders wanta join ????
Midfielder
Guest
Real My understanding is he at least 3 times offered Fox he would broadcast Hal across WIN corporation. Fox refused outright .
Paul
Guest
#Gallop_OUT #Lowys_OUT The people running the FFA are running it in their own self-interest, not in the interest of the game. My happy pill would be to have Gallop and Lowy out and half the salary of the FFA management team
Realfootball
Guest
I'm betting on teams 11 and 12 being South Sydney and Red Bull Gold Coast. Just too coincidental these two reports coming on the heels of the shift to a difference structure for the A League and the delay in releasing criteria for expansion bids. I know the Red Bull reports didn't mention GC, but it is such a natural fit for the brand, plus there's a stadium ready to go in the fastest growing urban area in Aus. It would take serious dollars to crack a new club in the GC, but Red Bull have the moolah and the attitude. Teams 13 and 14 will be Geelong and the Gong. What might change this is the Nix being given the boot, which is highly likely.