Penrith Panthers want an A League team

Penrith Panthers want an A League team

Yep, the Penrith NRL club have put their hand up for an A League franchise:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4462704a18075.html

Some of those big forwards might be a bit slow for the A League.

They'll fit right in with all the other thugs.

Wairarapa to sign feeder club deal to Penrith 

Think its a good idea, no worries financially

They are looking for more people to fill Penrith Stadium during the off season.

How many more team interested in A-League? They might end up having an A-League second division with the amount of groups interested.AllWhitebelievr2008-04-05 13:11:57

that would be actaully quite decent. non quility in a league that we are trying to make should be punished

The people out in the far Western Suburbs of Sydney first and foremost do not have any interest in soccer and secondly despise the game.. If it wasn't for the european people out there they wouldn't even know what soccer is...

I personally think that it will be a massive backward step if they gave them a spot in the a league ahead of other cities region that can get behind the team and support it in droves. Each and every time they hear the word soccer they cringe and call in "wog ball" so why should the FFA even contemplate it for.. I personally believe the Panther's just want to grow their empire not that i have a problem with that i just don't think it will be a right step for the a league to head in.

Didn't they get 5,000 odd people to one of the Sydney pre-season kick arounds.  

Interesting statement considering I have seen a number of comments describing West Sydney as "...Australia's biggest grassroots football community..." and "...the heartland of football in the metropolitan area."

On top of that Football NSW (one of Aussies richest sporting organisations) are building their new headquarters there that will include: seven floodlit fields, a FIFA-standard artificial pitch, gymnasium, eight-lane swimming pool, sports-science facilities, a three- or four-star hotel, administrative offices and a FIFA-standard futsal stadium.

And if any new A League team there can get on side with FNSW then those facilities will be at their disposal.

"Hotbed of football"... so sort of like the North Shore of Auckland then... that should end well.

Penrith and where NSW Soccer are building their new headquarters is not the same place. While both technically out west they are not that close to each other. Penrith stadium would also be too far out for a western franchise, there are better options closer to the heart of the west and to all the transport hubs. Places such as Olympic Park and Parranmatta Stadium come to mind.

yes bring back the paramata power and the Wollongong wolves

Well said Sloth, that's exactly what my point was in my earlier post!!

Seems like the FFA are pretty committed to a West Sydney team as early as 2010 (Gold Coast and Townsville in 2009 and then WS and a 2nd Melbourne team the year after) even if it isn't the Panthers and it looks like there's maybe 3 different groups interested in bidding.