A-league Expansion - Derbies

Clash of The Lions - New FFA Derby

That is just...I don't know. I really don't know what to say.

meow?

Imagine if lions were a native animal of Australia!

I'm sure it won't stay that way if they were picked.... 

...Surely.

The original tweet wasn't even about the logo, yet just about every response to it was a mix of "the logo is bad" and "you're copying the Roar". I hope they learned a lesson today about the importance of getting your visual identity correct at the beginning.

SWS's *bid in general

Canberra in talks with Champions Legue Club

From 18 mths ago - No Backdoor at The FFA - Mate

"Billionaire Bruce Gordon ready to back A-League club in Wollongong"eVery large text size

Billionaire WIN Television boss Bruce Gordon has thrown his support behind an A-League team for Wollongong, indicating he would be prepared to invest in the expansion club.

Gordon said the Illawarra had the capacity to be the base for three elite sports, the Dragons, Illawarra Hawks and a new football team.

Confirming he has been in negotiations with former FFA chairman Frank Lowy, who was succeeded by son Steven, Gordon expects a team to be based in Wollongong.

"We have talked to Frank Lowy and we are still talking to him," he said.

"We are very happy to support something … an A-League team. That will happen sooner or later. Probably sooner more than later."

Canberra A-League expansion members leave first fan forum confidentEAMONN TIERNAN AUGUST 02, 2018 Foundations members for Canberra's A-League expansion team left the club's first fan forum brimming with confidence on Thursday night.

The forum brought members up to speed ahead of the bid deadline on August 31, with Football Federation Australia to announce its two expansion teams on October 31.

There were more than 100 people at the Canberra A-League bids first member's forum on Thursday.

Five members of Canberra's bid team led the 90-minute session and answered questions of the 100-strong in attendance, many of whom had travelled from regional areas.

Members were encouraged to share their opinions on how the club should be shaped and operated, with plenty of dialogue across three group sessions.

The focus areas were the "50 plus one" ownership model, how Canberra would overcome its small population and how this bid was different from the failed effort 10 years ago.

The ownership model mirrors one used in German and Swedish leagues, where clubs can only obtain a licence if its members retain overall control of operations.

Canberra has signed more than 4000 members and if the bid is successful they will get a say in the club colours, team name, crest and constitution.

Organisers pointed to Canberra's 30,000 registered players and said they were confident they've convinced the FFA its about the number of fans in the region, not the number of people.

Finally, the team emphasised there were core differences to the 2008 bid in that this one is community-driven and they could be partnered with a Champions League club.

Canberra bid leader Michael Caggiano.

Photo: Jamila Toderas

The bid are in advanced talks with two European clubs and if they can secure a partnership agreement it would make them almost irresistible to the FFA.

Canberra are competing with nine other bids but their main rivals are in Sydney and Melbourne, which bid leaders said they were happy to see fighting each other.

Foundation member Donny Keomanivong said an A-League team could put Canberra on the map and help shirk the capital's boring reputation.

"At first I didn't think we were a chance but after tonight I'm really confident," Keomanivong said.

"We've got the resources already and one thing I'd love to see and I think will happen is Canberra having a really active supporter base.

"I grew up wanting to support a Canberra A-League team but we've never had one so I've had to support another club, but if we get a team I'm all for Canberra.

"It would mean a lot to the city a team and give everyone an even bigger reason to love Canberra."

Bid leader Michael Caggianno said he was thrilled with the level of engagement and encouraged everybody in the room to sign up five new members.

"People came out tonight and were really interested and wanted to play a part and have a role in what we're doing, there wasn't one negative comment all night," Caggiano.

"I'm feeling pretty confident, there is a lot of water to go under the bridge but we're not going to leave anything in the tank."

Click or touch here to become a Canberra member, there is no sign-up fee.

Foundations members for Canberra's A-League expansion team left the club's first fan forum brimming with confidence on Thursday night.

Five members of Canberra's bid team led the 90-minute session and answered questions of the 100-strong in attendance, many of whom had travelled from regional areas.

Members were encouraged to share their opinions on how the club should be shaped and operated, with plenty of dialogue across three group sessions.

The focus areas were the "50 plus one" ownership model, how Canberra would overcome its small population and how this bid was different from the failed effort 10 years ago.

The ownership model mirrors one used in German and Swedish leagues, where clubs can only obtain a licence if its members retain overall control of operations.

Canberra has signed more than 4000 members and if the bid is successful they will get a say in the club colours, team name, crest and constitution.

Organisers pointed to Canberra's 30,000 registered players and said they were confident they've convinced the FFA its about the number of fans in the region, not the number of people.

Finally, the team emphasised there were core differences to the 2008 bid in that this one is community-driven and they could be partnered with a Champions League club.

The bid are in advanced talks with two European clubs and if they can secure a partnership agreement it would make them almost irresistible to the FFA.

Sydney bid teams shake up A-League expansion battle by joining forces https://t.co/Woly3YUJu2 via @smh

— Blake Hampton (@blake_1986) August 5, 2018

Today should be the day we find out officially if 4 and 5 are merging.

Refresher (In no particular order)

1. “Team 11” (South East Victoria)
2. South Melbourne (Lakeside)
3. Western Melbourne ( Wyndham )
4. South West Sydney (Liverpool)
5. Macarthur (Campbelltown)
6. Southern Expansion (Sutherland-St George-Illawara)
7. Wollongong Wolves
8. Canberra
9. Brisbane City
10. Ipswich Pride
11. Gold Coast United29th June 2018 - Lowy said wrong place
12. Tasmania29th June 2018 - Lowy said wrong place
13. Fremantle29th June 2018- Lowy said wrong place
14. West Adelaide 29th June 2018- Lowy said wrong place
15. Belgravia Leisure 29th June 2018- No idea why
16. Brisbane Strikers 20th May 2018 - FFA model was too risky
17. Victoria Patriots June 2017 - Got a better offer from Wyndham Council

If so many applicants were rejected by Lowy as being in the wrong place, but he's now stepping down, the decision re which clubs are admitted to an expanded HAL should wait till Lowy's replacement is in place and the FIFA report is implemented. But what do I know... :)

He is there till November but - What is the chances of 4 into 5 with Lowy as a backer (Not sure if Frank still has Sydney FC shares)

We Are One

I'd much rather see Canberra in the league than another Sydney/Melbourne team.

Not going to happen. 

6,000 Members (on mailing list) Canberra keep building

Carle - Australia needs A-League expansion and a 2nd tier

https://twitter.com/Gatty54/status/103250206821953...

Tbf I did always feel the FFAs U-turn on expansion was part of the effort to hold onto power. Feel for the clubs who spent thousands putting together bids though, hopefully expansion isn't delayed long.

Rumour no expansion in 19/20

Hearing if CRWG recommendations are passed it is unlikely we will see expansion for the 2019-20 season

— Ray Gatt (@Gatty54) August 23, 2018

" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://twitter.com/Gatty54/status/1032502068219531264

Gatty's Followers suggesting expansion was red herring from day 1 so SL could blame failure on Pro Football and PFA

Time line as I believe it - Is it workable. APFCA have said they support expansion.
31 August last day for full bids to FFA
Short List of 4 decided by FFA released shortly after - will APFCA be consulted ;-()
September Mid EGM to vote on CRWG recommendations of reform. (min 21 days after FFA call)
November FFA AGM to vote on new congress members and board. Work group on new A-League model and expansion for 19/20

'Uncertainty over future of FFA could push A-League expansion announcement beyond October'

PLANS to expand the A-League could become collateral damage in what looms as a period of huge uncertainty in Australian football over the next three months.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/a-league/un...

17 bids. Throw in Auckland, that makes 18.

Give them a Tournament to find top two. Promote to A-league next season. 

Rest go to a div 2. Promote 2 each year for two years, no relegation from A-League.

When HAL has 16 teams, switch to pro-rel. Bottom of div 2 plays off against top of next level IF they want in to pro league.

Div 2 could be designated semi-pro maybe to help viability if needed.

Easy on paper

Most of the bids (certainly new ‘franchises’ as opposed to real football clubs) are premised on Div 1 revenue streams, ie share of TV deal, and Div 1 status gate-driven revenue streams of F&B, merchandise, ticket sales. 

Refresher (In no particular order)

1. “Team 11” (South East Victoria)
2. South Melbourne (Lakeside)
3. Western Melbourne ( Wyndham )
4. South West Sydney (Liverpool) Macarthur (Campbelltown)
5. Southern Expansion (Sutherland-St George-Illawara)
6. Wollongong Wolves
7. Canberra
8. Brisbane City
9. Ipswich Pride
10. Gold Coast United29th June 2018 - Lowy said wrong place
11. Tasmania29th June 2018 - Lowy said wrong place
12. Fremantle29th June 2018- Lowy said wrong place
13. West Adelaide 29th June 2018- Lowy said wrong place
14. Belgravia Leisure 29th June 2018- No idea why
15. Brisbane Strikers 20th May 2018 - FFA model was too risky
16. Victoria Patriots June 2017 - Got a better offer from Wyndham Council                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Only one is fresh territory from my view.      

The A-League and the club game in general need a breath of fresh air and a second division could just do the trick.

Pro's n Con's of 2nd Division

AAFC - How we see 2nd tier

Implications for A-League expansion from FFA Congress Battle

Ray Gatt reported on this issue yesterday in The Australian - you will recall we highlighted it here - and now others have turned their attention to the implications for A-League expansion of the current FFA Congress battle.

Sure enough, in News Corp papers it is again presented as A-League expansion not happening because of the FFA Congress battles. There is even a statement that unnamed bid backers "are thinking twice" about their bids "given the events of the last few months". Months!?! Where have they been!? It's been years guys and gals.

We can only repeat what we said yesterday that we have not heard anyone involved in the game who has suggested A-League expansion should not happen, including the protagonists in the FFA Congress battles. The decision on A-League expansion may be delayed; not expansion itself. 

A-League expansion and FFA Congress battle and Day 4 of Bolt Watch

Hearing Brisbane City won’t be putting in its final bid for A L licence today. Ipswich also likely to withdraw. Also hearing FFA could fast track decision to late September .

— Ray Gatt (@Gatty54) August 30, 2018

D-day and FOXsport rank the bids

Odd but seeing they may be paying for them - they want a say.

  Leaving  Capital City at the foot of the list (table) but a telling line say it all

Canberra

Intending to cover not just Canberra and the wider ‘capital region’ but parts of southern and inland NSW too. Appears to have ticked most of the boxes, but the desire for more big-market teams from FFA and Fox will be too strong. Next time. WOLLONGONG Another former NSL team, the Wolves have been engaged in a cold war with Southern Expansion, who want to include the Illawarra as part of their catchment area. Have gone quiet since the departure of chief executive Chris Papakosmos, which isn’t a promising sign.

Has Fox spoken to FFA -  # 6 Not reviewed because they have not been singing and dancing 

1. “Team 11” (South East Victoria)
2. South Melbourne (Lakeside)
3. Western Melbourne ( Wyndham )
4. South West Sydney (Liverpool) Macarthur (Campbelltown)
5. Southern Expansion (Sutherland-St George-Illawara)
6. Wollongong Wolves ---------------------------------------------- MIA
7. Canberra
8. Brisbane City
9. Ipswich Pride

Gatty obviously with some bad info about Ipswich 

The Ipswich Pride bid team are excited to announce we have formally lodged our bid for inclusion in an expanded @ALeague.

— Western Pride FC (@WesternPrideFC) August 31, 2018

Also

FUNDING DEAL

We are delighted to announce a multi-million dollar funding deal with the ACT Government.

This is amazing news & we thank ACT Sports Minister @YvetteSBerry for recognising the significant benifits an @ALeague team would bring to the region.https://t.co/InQUE3Q1HS

— Canberra Region ALeague (@CBRRegionHAL) August 31, 2018

.@FFA today announced it had received eight final submissions to be part of the Hyundai @ALeague's expansion from 2019/20. See them here.https://t.co/mpnxWenbSK

— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) August 31, 2018

Southern Expansion has unveiled plans for a $50 million state-of the art, high-performance training and sports science centre in the Sutherland Shire. See Media Release for more: https://t.co/9h78WPgrhn pic.twitter.com/BnRKhJ1YWe

— Southern Expansion (@SouthernExpFC) August 31, 2018

A-League expansion

With deadline day for A-League expansion bidders having been and gone, we now know the eight franchises that are still in the race. They are:

• NSW: South West Sydney Macarthur; Southern Expansion; Wollongong Wolves
• VIC: Team 11, South Melbourne, Western Melbourne Group
• QLD: Ipswich Pride FC
• ACT: Canberra and Capital Region

Michael Lynch gives a brief rundown on the eight.

Ben McKay for AAP focuses on the three Melbourne bidders

Of course, the franchises are pushing their claims through the media. Here, Southern Expansion reveals that it will unveil plans for a $50 million state-of-the-art ($), high-performance training and sports science centre in the Sutherland Shire, located on disused land near the Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation. The complex will provide 10 grass and synthetic playing fields and futsal courts as well as hotel accommodation for visiting players, coaches and corporate guests and is said to be modelled on Real Madrid - which must be a disappointment for Southern Expansion head of football, Craig Foster, who is a devotee of Barcelona. This is in the middle of Prime Minister Morrison's electorate.

Simon Hill says, whatever happens, whichever two are selected, the remaining bidders - including those that initially showed an interest - must not be forgotten.

As we reported yesterday, we understand that the FFA Board is aiming to bring forward the decision so they get to make it prior to potentially being turfed-out of office later in September, presumably so Steven Lowy can add it to his list of 'achievements' as Chairman.

Canberra Corner

In Canberra, they say they are the only "ready now" bid mostly on the basis of the $1.2 million funding secured from the ACT Government to support the bid until the television money is made available to the new clubs in the competition, and their community model. (Canberra may have forgotten that South West Sydney Macarthur is backed by a billionaire).

Eamonn Tiernan presents the factors that will "make or break" the Canberra bid, which he counts as being: population, being ready to go, overseas links and funding. 

  Appears to be the final 8 after Ipswich tweet on D-Day they have filed the formal paperwork