Gong look a cert

 

Interesting the money coming into football but F**k me drunk ...... I wonder how my little CCM will be able to match these guys for funds in the future ......... but it is very good news for this guy to come on board.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/foo...651084315.html

Gordon wins FFA's affections for South Coast
Michael Cockerill
October 1, 2008

SOUTH COAST FC have moved to the head of the queue to join the A-League, with WIN Corporation owner Bruce Gordon formally agreeing to subsidise the bid.

Gordon's decision to put his money on the table - he is believed to be worth a about $1.2 billion - is a huge breakthrough for the Wollongong-based bid, which is competing with Canberra and west Sydney for a place in the competition from 2010.

South Coast FC are selling their case on the basis that they will represent a region of more than 500,000 people extending south to the Victorian border, inland to the Southern Highlands, and embracing parts of the Macarthur district in south west Sydney.

Football Federation Australia, which last week handed exclusive negotiating rights for a second Melbourne team to businessman Peter Sidwell, is due to make a decision on further expansion by Christmas. Gold Coast United and North Queensland FC have already been confirmed as new teams for 2009.

The FFA is known to have been impressed by the South Coast's initial bid document, and the news Gordon will effectively underwrite the team for the first five years could be the clincher. It's understood FFA chairman Frank Lowy personally convinced Gordon of the merits of funding an A-League team.

Gordon, 78, was associated with the game as a part-owner of Wollongong Wolves in the NSL, and was first approached a year ago about linking with a new A-League team. It's believed Gordon's personal wealth, and not that of WIN Corporation, will be used, but WIN does have naming rights to the stadium.

Gordon's presence lengthens the odds for both Canberra and west Sydney, although the commitment from the ACT Government to help fund a team out of Bruce Stadium has also earned plenty of brownie points inside FFA. It's likely the final decision for the 12th team in 2010 will be a straight choice between Canberra and South Coast, despite a strong view within management that western Sydney would be the ideal option.

The dilemma for the governing body is that western Sydney has yet to produce a cogent bid. Talks have been held with a number of interested parties, including Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill and ANZ Stadium, but so far nothing concrete has emerged.

Sydney FC chairman Andrew Kemeny has also made public his concerns about a second Sydney team in 2010, suggesting the market is not yet strong enough to support two teams

 

Looks like I'll have two teams to cheer for soon enough.

 

(Phoenix first though, naturally )

South Coast A-League deal denied

BY JOEL RITCHIE

2/10/2008 4:00:00 AM

WIN Corporation and South Coast Football Club have rejected rumours that billionaire Bruce Gordon has agreed to underwrite a Wollongong-based A-League franchise.

A story appearing in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday claimed Gordon, the owner of WIN Corporation, had agreed to bankroll the South Coast bid after personal encouragement from FFA chairman and Sydney FC chairman Frank Lowy.

However, WIN Corporation executive chairman Andrew Gordon and South Coast Football Club chairman Eddy De Gabriele yesterday both denied any agreement had been made.

"WIN has looked at every option but unfortunately we are not in a position to provide financial assistance to the South Coast A-League at this time. Although we do pledge our interest in supporting them through sponsorship," Andrew Gordon said.

"WIN Corporation confirmed while the company had investigated the possibilities, it has never committed to and nor will be providing financial assistance to the South Coast A-League."

De Gabriele also denied any knowledge of a pledge by Bruce Gordon to underwrite the South Coast bid.

"I need these people ... we would never do anything to jeopardise any potential support from WIN," De Gabriele said.

"I know nothing about it - I have not had a conversation with Andrew Gordon or Bruce Gordon for three months."

Even if Bruce Gordon, who splits his time between Wollongong and Bermuda, did pour some of his estimated $1.2 billion fortune into South Coast club, the franchise would still need a commitment from the State Government to upgrade WIN Stadium's western grandstand.

"If we don't get a commitment about the western grandstand, we're not going to get an A-League licence," De Gabriele said.

In August, Premier Morris Iemma indicated he would look favourably on WIN Stadium's western grandstand bid if the region secured an A-League team.

In the meantime, Mr Iemma resigned and was replaced by Nathan Rees, leaving the consortium trying to bring A-League football to the region "back at square one".

"We have to start from scratch," De Gabriele said.

"All bets are off - the Wollongong Sportsground Trust are trying to set up a meeting with Nathan Rees as soon as possible."

In the meantime, De Gabriele expects to receive a report card from the FFA in the next two or three weeks about the strengths and weaknesses of the South Coast bid.

A foundation membership and corporate sponsorship drive will be rolled out in the near future.

The rumours of Bruce Gordon's commitment to bankroll the South Coast franchise came just days after the FFA granted exclusive negotiating rights to a Melbourne-based consortium headed by businessman Peter Sidwell.

That move gave the second Melbourne club - provisionally known as Melbourne Heart - the inside running to be the A-League's 11th team in 2010-11.

The 12th and, for time being, final spot is expected to come down to South Coast, Canberra and Western Sydney.

The FFA is expected to make a decision early in the new year.

Hrrrrrrrrrr smh do not normally publish a major story without some evidence ��� Michael Cockerill is a good journalist and does not have a name for publishing articles like this without being sure he is right otherwise his creditability as Fairfax�s leading football journalist would be at risk as he said �It's understood FFA chairman Frank Lowy personally convinced Gordon of the merits of funding an A-League team.� You don�t use Franks name without a high degree of being correct as for using the name a very powerful media figure again not without a high degree of certainty.

In the Illawarra Mercury article it says as a quote from Andrew Gordon (son of Bruce) "Although we do pledge our interest in supporting them through sponsorship," is sponsorship not financially backing them.

I think there is more to come on this issue ��� it may be WIN stadium and a commitment by the NSW government to upgrade it;- given a mini budget is coming trimming the fat and cutting back maybe a major concern as will the stadium upgrade go through and this was mentioned in the Illawarra Mercury article.

Anyway arguably Australia best print journalist has gone to print in a major release using Frank Lowy�s and Bruce Gordon�s names in the Fairfax press ��� either Mike is slipping badly and stuffed up big time or there is much more to this story.