There will be two new A-League teams by the start of the 2020-21 season, with Western Melbourne Group and Macarthur-South West Sydney reportedly granted club licenses at an FFA board meeting last night.
The board’s decision on A-League expansion will be officially announced during a press conference to be held at midday today, but multiple outlets are reporting Western Melbourne Group and Macarthur-South West Sydney have been given the nod to join the competition.
Western Melbourne Group’s arrival will see the A-League grow to an 11-team competition in 2019-20, however Macarthur-South West Sydney will have to wait a further year for their debut season in 2020-21.
Macarthur-South West Sydney had been touted as a likely successful bid in the weeks leading up to last night’s board meeting, but the decision to award the other license to Western Melbourne Group comes as something of a surprise given Team 11 had been believed to be the most likely Victorian bid to be given the nod by the FFA board.
However, Team 11 were relying on $120 million of government funding for their purpose-built 15,000-capacity stadium in Dandenong, whereas Western Melbourne has committed to funding its own stadium in Tarneit, also with 15,000 seats.
Construction on that venue is likely to begin soon and take around three or four years to complete, with the side to play out of Geelong’s Kardinia Park in the meantime.
Macarthur-South West Sydney will use the existing Campbeltown Stadium as their home ground when they enter the competition in 2020. It’s been widely reported that the bid’s preference was to enter the competition next season, however the delay will no doubt placate the Western Sydney Wanderers.
It’s been no secret the Wanderers wanted to have a year playing out of their new Parramatta Stadium home ground before the entrance of a new team in Western Sydney.
That delay may harm the Sydney bid’s attempt to lure former Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak back to the region he grew up in. The Aston Villa defensive midfielder is reportedly open to an offer, but the extra year’s wait may throw a spanner in the works.
In addition to Team 11, the other unsuccessful bids were Canberra United – apparently well-received but weakened by a number of concerns, including over the proposed side’s financials – Southern Expansion, and South Melbourne, which, according to the Herald Sun’s David Davutovic, was never a real chance of being granted a license and was actually set to be eliminated in the last round of cuts in October.
Keep it locked on The Roar as we bring you all the A-League expansion news, updates and reaction throughout the day.
clipper
Roar Rookie
You're right WCR - far more Football clubs, although Wests is a huge club and controls a lot of sport down that way.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Why spend millions on a train station for 8,000 people over a season of 10 matches? No economically viable.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
FFA is biting of more than it can chew. Should reduce club numbers so as to focus on getting existing attendances up to over 10,000 on a regular basis. Not spreading the jam thinner
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Two manufactured clubs. What happened to the heritage? South Melbourne has strong Greek heritage, so why a side out there?
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
The fear is not that A-League expansion has come too early, but that it has come too late. I read that from some posters that they believe FOX focus to much on other successful codes. Why is that? When soccer in Australia fixes it's identity problems then crowds will turn up. Blaming other sports for their failings will not help.
Punter
Roar Rookie
CCM has played games in Canberra. The metrics has always been fish where the fishes are, so anyone expecting anyone else but Melbourne or Sydney was on a hiding to nothing. Now with the advent of a new model in 6 months time with a new FFA board & A-league board, maybe, well I think probably, the metrics will change. With a new division 2 that was proposed, new teams from new areas can come in.
Dart
Guest
They are even closer to Wollongong.
brian drian
Guest
good points. i hope they can come up with a name that will encourage geelongites to take them to heart. i cant imagine them getting too excited about a team called west melbourne.
josh
Guest
Absolute rubbish they will play in front of a core of 3-4000 unless WSW turn up. People from the area already have a team.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Also, it's actually a very quick drive from North Canberra to Campbelltown.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
WCG what are the Rams' colours?
AGO74
Guest
Don't bring logic into this please rugger regarding the number of clubs in certain cities roughly correlating with there relative population to Australia. That plus the bigger the city (ie. Sydney/Melbourne) the more economic strength and resources those cities have when compared to smaller cities like Brisbane even - let alone regional centres like Canberra or Wollongong (and all things being equal I'd love to see a team in Wollongong - great football city). All of that said, I think FFA have had a quiet word in the ear of Canberra saying to keep on going and they will get the 'Nix's license before too long.
Pablo
Guest
Agreed that MSW is a good choice with the growth in that region but WM is a little confusing as their was little cry out for a team from that community like there was for Caberra and SM bids (they have the supporters and infrastructure in place already, i would think more investors would come on board with them once their bids were approved).. I would like it if we got three teams in for the 20-21 season if they would like MSW to wait another season but are ready to go with Canberra and SEM or SM.. IMO SM would have been a better option than WM but it shows how little the old FFA (Gallop still in - needs to go!) & fox are supporting the growth of the league as a whole.. I would really like to see Optus Sports come in a put a rocket up fox to do better or to take over the coverage all together as they did with EPL and UCL/EL as they do great coverage and pre and post shows (minus the beginning of the WC, though im sure they have ironed out those problems). They seem to want to grow the game world wide and would hope they support that for the A/W-league as well seeing their is a market that fox is not taking full advantage of seeing as their focus is on NRL/AFL/Cricket (plus funding and coverage of the second division possibly if they want to go all in - the optus championship), the future of coverage is the way of steaming and optus have fully committed to that as well. The only reason i still have fox is for the league plus i have optus for the EPL coverage but would love to get rid of fox all together as i'm sure a lot of football fans here are in the same position as we have no choice, perhaps we should lobby to Optus to look into taking over coverage??
Brendo51
Roar Pro
I would also add that a train station at Tarneit is critical to this clubs long term viability, if the only transport there is via Car or Bus they are screwed in the long term.
Brendo51
Roar Pro
I don't think the idea is terrible but I have concerns over their viability in the long term. They are going to play the first 4 years in Geelong while the new stadium is built and then move out of Geelong into Tarneit. Maybe they can draw 6-7K (maybe 10-12 for the Derbies) while playing in Geelong, but if they are called "West Melbourne" will the Geelong fans become invested in them. Then what happens when they move, will the Geelong fans travel? Maybe they will pick up in West Melbourne what they lose in Geelong but that is a big if. I think they have a huge challenge around engagement and identity to overcome. I hope they succeed I really do. Whoever takes on the role of marketing manager for this club has a huge job ahead of them.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Let’s hope Wollongong next time
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Vote now! Tarneit Rams or West Melbourne Knights
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Afl is strong in southern nsw act and gws play games in Canberra , as well as the raiders and brumbies , so soccer has missed an opportunity today . It would be great for soccer players to have an A league team in Canberra or Wollongong Big picture thinking...I am a supporter of the whole of Australia being included. Play the ball , not the man .
Onside
Roar Rookie
Go West Melbourne Knights
Punter
Roar Rookie
I'm not clouded by big city thinking, I just wanted expansion to allow more players to play the game. I'm just not one who thinks if things don't go my way, I pack up my bat & go. Whether it was Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra or Nth Queensland I didn't care as I have no control of it, I go by what the suits decide. You mentioned AFL & they only have 1 non big city team which is less then A-League.