Following Mike Charlesworth’s announcement that he will be selling the Central Coast Mariners, it seems their fate is now sealed. The next question is – who could replace them?
It’s unclear if Charlesworth will be able to sell the club, but he has said he will hand back the club’s license to FFA should a purchaser not be found. Let’s explore what could happen to the franchise if that eventuates.
Things have changed a lot since the last round of A-League expansion back in 2018 and this helps to narrow things down.
Beginning with Queensland, there were four bids: Brisbane City, Brisbane Strikers, Ipswich and Gold Coast. Each of the three Brisbane bids would have to share Lang Park with Brisbane Roar while new stadiums could be built or redeveloped.
However, the Queensland government have made it clear they will not be funding any new stadiums in Brisbane. City and Strikers have since left the bidding process themselves.
This just leaves Gold Coast United, but now they have competition from the Titans and Suns it makes things even harder than before. While FFA and Fox might want a Brisbane derby, there’s little support for a second team from fans in Brisbane and the Gold Coast is a bit iffy. Redcliffe and Sunshine Coast might be options in the future.
In New South Wales, there were four bids. Macarthur and South West Sydney combined theirs and were successful, while Southern Expansion dropped out. That just leaves Wollongong Wolves.
Adelaide and Perth had bids from West Adelaide and Fremantle, but both of those bids would have to share stadiums and neither has shown that they have much support. Again, perhaps sometime in the future.
Melbourne had three bids. Belgravia Leisure had nothing to say about themselves and were dismissed by FFA. South Melbourne made plenty of noise, but in their FFA Cup semi-final versus Sydney FC they could only draw an underwhelming 5747 at Lakeside for a significant match that was heavily promoted.
They have a small group of rusted-on fans, but it doesn’t seem like there’s any broader groundswell in the wider community.
The third bid from Dandenong now seems the clear frontrunner. Melbourne’s south-east region has a population of 1.5 million people, who come from 160 nationalities and speak over 130 languages.
The region has a working-class identity, being Australia’s largest manufacturing zone and employing over 92,000 people and contributing $66.1 billion to Gross Regional Product. Then there’s the geographic separation from the CBD of 32.5 kilometres from AAMI Park.
Dandenong would initially play at a temporary 8000-seat stadium at their Casey Regional Football Centre while a permanent stadium can be built close to Dandenong Station.
Given that Western United averaged crowds of 5653 while playing ‘home’ matches in Geelong and Ballarat, Dandenong could easily better that, considering their catchment.
(Photo by Martin Keep/Getty Images)
With the states out of the way, that brings us to the regions.
Wollongong, as I’ve already mentioned. Plus, one bid each from Canberra and Tasmania. There were no bids from North Queensland.
Canberra has a good bid with strong backing, but if the season moves to winter, they’re up against the Raiders, Brumbies and Giants. Can they handle four codes?
Tasmania has no competition in winter, has solid financial backing with a good stadium deal and they would do well to follow the model of Pacific FC in Canada.
Temporary rectangular seating is planned while a new stadium is built and having venues in two cities could avoid clashes with the fixtures of other codes if necessary.
Wollongong Wolves are an existing club with history and silverware, but money was a concern regarding their long-term sustainability last time around and it might rule them out again. They would, however, provide derbies with the three sides in Sydney as well as both Newcastle and Perth.
Given the uncertainty over finances for the Wolves – unless they can present a clear succession plan to the now 91-year-old Bruce Gordon – and problems with competing with three other codes in Canberra, Tasmania is the strongest of the three bids.
Looking abroad, there weren’t any bids from New Zealand but a number of current clubs have put forward Auckland as an option. Auckland City have distanced themselves, claiming they don’t have the financial backing for an A-League side.
There aren’t any other suitable bids at short notice from the other states. The regions are a bit iffy, and while they do have strong tribalism, it might not be enough. That just leaves Victoria and the best bid from there is Dandenong.
With a similar distance to the Melbourne CBD as Parramatta is from Moore Park and the region boasting a large diverse multicultural population with a working-class identity, it’s easy to see why some have compared this bid to the Wanderers.
From the perspective of FFA, it wouldn’t be hard to convince them that Dandenong would add more value to the league than Central Coast.
It isn’t yet a done deal and maybe a rich foreigner could pop up, or the fans could save the club themselves, but it does look bad for them. If their licence indeed goes elsewhere, Dandenong will be the ones most likely to receive it.
The potential for Macarthur and Dandenong to enter the A-League together and reinvigorate the competition is an opportunity that’s difficult to ignore.
Frank
Roar Rookie
I look at this differently, don’t get me wrong, I love the Golden Generation players but remember pre 2006 the so called Golden boys failed to qualify for 7 World Cups. In fact they struggled to get past countries like Israil, Scotland, Iran and yes New Zealand. Where as our post 2006 Socceroos filled with some A-League players have qualified for 4 World Cup in a row and won the 2015 Asian Cup, so let’s not underestimate our post 2006 Socceroos achievements.
Frank
Roar Rookie
Tim Tuckerman, I agree with most of your article. The A-League is of a good standard as I have family and friends around the world who watch our League and say it’s actually pretty good. We as lovers of Australian Soccer are simply treated as second rate citizen. The AFL is so far up all media outlets that they simply get whatever they want When ever they want it and must have an entire department dedicated to demolishing Australian Soccer wherever possible. The night following the AL Frand Final channel 9 didn’t ever report on it, seriously!! Here in Victoria!! So a Melbourne team is in the GF and that doesn’t make the sport section of the 6pm news, really!!
Voice of Reason
Roar Rookie
Fascinating history Rodger, thanks very much for sharing. Last weekend I went to see Floreat Athena beat Sorrento 3-1 to win the premiership (albeit finals coming). Even Greek lager in the fridge ... I stuck with the local Gage Roads however. Hard to disagree - and I don't know the answer either! PS Come on you Spurs :)
Coastyboi
Guest
5,000+ is a very respectful number for a FFA cup match. South Melbourne have a of proud history too. Dare I say their games would bring an exiting, tribal element to an A-League derby.
JJ
Guest
"South Melbourne made plenty of noise, but in their FFA Cup semi-final versus Sydney FC they could only draw an underwhelming 5747 at Lakeside for a significant match that was heavily promoted." It was still the highest attendant match in the entire competition other then the final and considering weather-wise it was probably the worst day of the year and was a mid-week fixture, the attendance wasn't too bad.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
And that game got four times the ratings the A-League is currently getting.
Coastyboi
Guest
South Melbourne are keen to join an A-League second division, & I’d support that. :thumbup:
BennoFootball
We ( Football ) aren’t the biggest Code ( what ever that means )??? But: WE ARE THE ONLY FOOTBALL!!! Let’s FILL Suncorp Stadium!!! FORZA BRISBANE ROAR FOOTBALL CLUB!!!
At work
Roar Rookie
But Whitten Oval will still be the size of an AFL field, which means it’s absolutely terrible for a rectangle sport like football. Jubilee oval isn’t as big, don’t get me wrong it’s still too big as it caters to a running track around it for local school carnivals, so it still sucks.
Johnny
Guest
South Melbourne got 5747 against Sydney FC during the week in torrential rain!
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
This subject of franchise clubs vs community clubs is an interesting discussion. New vs Old. It got me to thinking what do I actually think is the better option. I have several clubs I follow, my heritage is English, and as my dear old late dad being a Londoner, it had to be a London club and my desire to be different from my brothers [and Dad] I chose to follow Chelsea. I liked their Blue Shirts. This was way back in the 1950’s and a bit before I had actually seen a live game. Dad had gone to see some local game but a fight broke out both on the park and in the spectators. His thoughts were, not for my kids. [He had seen enough fighting apparently]. So for him a life long Charlton Athletic tragic and youth player, Australian soccer wasn’t for him or his kids. The game here was in turmoil, apparently a clash of cultures within the local controlling body, the old school [mainly British heritage people or Australians] were arguing with the New Australians, about names, food, etc etc. sound familiar? The old school of thinking was you based your club in a suburb, name it after that suburb , called it a soccer team and you ran a first team and a reserves team. Sons followed fathers, you roped in your neighbors, friends and that’s how clubs mainly functioned and survived. If you didn’t do it their way you didn’t progress. The new Australians did things differently, they banded together as a community, Greeks, Yugoslavs, Italians, Dutch, Germans and many others from a war torn continent seeking a new life. These community based clubs soon surpassed the older more established clubs, they pooled their money, bought land, built clubrooms and grew. Pretty soon the new became the old. Another generation born from the immigrants of the 40’s and 50’s had other ideas. They saw what was possible, not impossible. They dreamed of a National competition, one that could show the ‘local football codes’ what we as a sport could do. It worked at first, the gates were better than they were in the local leagues, but many refused to support the ‘new clubs’ in the NSL, simple because one season before they were our arch enemy on the park and now they wanted, needed us, to follow them. Our better players were ‘stolen’ away from us on the promise of a better quality of game, transfer fees were non existent or a pittance of what smaller local clubs were expecting. [Sound familiar once again]. For whatever reason, things didn’t work out. Many different formats were tried but none really took hold. The dream slowly died. Another generation of thinkers and doers came along, another idea took hold and the old European names and cultures were put aside, some still say wrongfully. Richer people built a club from scratch paid a ‘fee’ to another new governing body and we began again. Again at first the new dawn was brighter, more vibrant and full of promise, but slowly things were not what was promised. Disillusioned fans felt betrayed and started to stay away. Again infighting for ‘power’ and control of the game, became more important than the game itself. So here we are, another crisis point for the sport apparently. So what do I think is the best option for me. I follow a club on the other side of the world, who i get to see on TV at some ungodly hour in the mornings. pretty successful these days, but they have a pretty rich owner. There is the local club, I grew up with, the one my Mum and Dad did get attached to. One I played for, went on to coach at, became a life member [thank you] and still go and see when I can. They have fallen on hard times. Dropped down into the third tier of Adelaide football. The demographics have changed, gone are the British immigrants from the 1950’s when the club was formed replaced with a new group of migrants or refugees as society calls them now. The club is no better or worse off, just the needs of the community has changed. So will they rise to the top again, I hope so but I just don’t know. And then there is my new ‘love’ or support of this new club. Owned by a rich man, or I think he is. Being played out on an international stage now, not just just a national one. Not that many of us really care enough to watch them on a cold Wednesday night in Adelaide. Different from the other two clubs I follow, but follow them i do. I buy their merchandise, I interact with them on a weekly basis, even during these strange times, I show support by liking their comments and video’s on social media. I feel connected to them. So what does all this mean? It means I love this game of ours, at all levels, is one version better than another, not to me. If I had a magic wand, would I change it, probably not, well not that much. Does my much loved local club want to play in the A League, deep down no, their place is where they are. Do they deserve the opportunity to play in the top tier professional league in Australia, yes my up bringing has taught me that we should all strive to reach our full potential and that our football society should provide that opportunity. BUT and here is the kicker, there needs to be safe guards put into place, because not everyone loves Salisbury United as I do, and playing in the top tier professional league anywhere, you need to appeal to the masses not to one small section of the community.
Coastyboi
Guest
Christopher, Mark Twain never said that. You’re misquoting someone. The proper line was this: “ The report of my death was an exaggeration.“
Onside
Guest
FFA clubs must support each other. It’s a family. From a professional sports perspective, a very small family. Somebody will always struggle, perhaps for a few seasons . From a performance perspective, it will always be somebody’s turn to be the weakest link. Remember that very old song, ‘ there were ten green bottles hanging on the wall, and if one green bottle should accidentally fall, there would be nine’ Trite analogy? Maybe. But we must always protect the weakest link. Until such time as a second div is viable, which could be another decade or so. It will take the FFA, another forty years or so to become an overnight success. Enjoy the bumpy journey.
Fernando
Guest
Unfortunately Perth Hearts already exist and is called Glory. I wish a Perth Victory, whatever name it got. :silly:
Onside
Guest
If that was the call then DANDENONG CITY. What happens though to the training facilities CITY have invested in.
Robbie148
Guest
Simply scrap the Mariners, Macarthur and Western United. Ten teams is plenty for the A-League, they've tried to grow too fast and it'll kill the league
Micko
Roar Rookie
Maybe Johan soccer isn't the biggest football code in Australia, and struggles to attract large crowds? Plus you get a lot of europhiles who are desperate to watch the soccer from their ethnic homeland instead of the local pro product.
Christopher
Roar Rookie
Who writes this nonsense? Probably best to write about something with a firmer starting point. As opposed to wish fulfillment. As Mark Twain said 'the rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated'
Admiral Ackbar
Guest
First11 Capital? https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/revealed-new-buyers-pitch-to-reinvigorate-a-leagues-mariners-551369 If an ex-Mariner is running the club (Zac Anderson) things could get a whole lot better in Gosford.
Nick Symonds
Guest
MASTERPLAN: https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/237658/bulldogs-complete-master-plan-for-whitten-oval-precinct AERIAL VIEW OF CURRENT STADIUM: https://ieslp.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Header-Image.png