3 points always suspended Western Sydney Wanderers FC

According to the Australian the FFA and a mysterious tycoon are in talks to start a franchise in Western Sydney next season.

Possible replacement for GCU? You can bet they'd get better crowds for a start...

Grrrr rrrrrrivals!

Version 15.0

If it wasn't for the GCU sh*tstorm I'd be a doubter too but I think that it's looking increasingly likely that GCU won't be round next season so there should be more impetus to replace them. I'm sure the FFA doesn't want a 9 team league, and Western Sydney is the obvious expansion point now there are 2 Melbourne teams. It'd be better for the Nix too - direct flights!

Quite frankly I think the FFA should swallow their pride and bring back the Furries (perhaps give the GCU licence to some people from Townsville/Cairns?)

Could NQ get consistently good crowd attendence?

Need an investor/someone will to part with $1m a year first.

Last year when NQ were about to go bust, weren't they given a figure to come up with, which they did, only to be told that it wasn't good enough?

I seem to remember some sort of scheme where the fans invested in the club in order to keep it afloat. Now I know that is really clutching at straws and perhaps not viable long term, but surely it's an indication that there was a reasonable level of support in the region.

I should think the goodwill up in Townsville's well & truly spent.

You reckon? I don't know the situation up there, so this is purely speculative, but I wouldn't be so sure.

If Welnix hadn't come along and bailed us out, and the FFA had stripped our licence, despite Terry's protests, do you think our goodwill would be spent? I for one would be mad as all hell at what had gone down, but I'd still jump at the chance of getting our team back.

Different situation, I know, but I bet there are a group of diehard fans up in North Queensland trying furiously to sort something out. I know it probably won't happen, but who knows with the dire state of things at the FFA at the moment.

I can't wait for a Western Sydney side in the comp. It will be awesome to watch all the Sydney Olympic (Bubbles), Sydney United (Psycho Tennis Fans) and Marconi (Pizza makers) fans all unite to support an A-League side!!!

Many lols just thinking about it!

NSL ftw!

They tried to get a community ownership going, but never got near the figure required.

Yeah, from memory the FFA said they needed to have a certain amount in the bank account, and instead they had the amount in non obligating promises. FFA said that ain't good enough. (my memory is notoriously unreliable, so the above may be completely untrue.)

Terry's WGA loan had more credibility.

Fixed

I remember going to a Stallions game at Fairfield, the football was dire but the young signorinas doing laps of the stands made up for it! Much easier on the eye than the knuckle dragging bears that were a big component of the Spirit support at North Sydney oval

I wonder if there's bookies laying down odds on if or when this will happen? Of course its all tied up with the GCU sh*tstorm. Could be an interesting off-season again

I read that Western Sydney had a mystery benefactor but that this fell through over the weekend. Apparently had a bit to do with the ownership structure and the FFA, along the same lines as what Palmer has been huffing and puffing about.

West Sydney and Canberra :)

Otago, they need a new team to support 

Now with GCU officially gone I wonder how strongly the FFA will try to get a 10th team again. If Western Sydney doesn't work out then there is the Canberra option as mentioned before. I was just reading Wikipedia about A-League expansion and they also mentioned Wollongong, Tasmania, Geelong, and an Oceanian combined team as ones which have been mooted. I doubt Oceania would ever happen, but all the other options seem to have some merit although I doubt Tasmania will get a franchise before a second Sydney team or Canberra.

Anyway, I was wondering about commercial viability and thinking that perhaps having more teams would actually make the competition and individual franchises more profitable. My reasoning is this: new franchises in cities that already have teams (or are close to those cities eg Geelong to Melbourne, Wollongong to Sydney) would allow for more derby matches and consequently more travelling fans to bolster attendances. New franchises in cities without existing team opens up whole new markets which could boost tv viewing numbers as people are more likely to watch a competition if they have a team involved. Also, more teams battling for the same 6 playoff spots would give the regular season more importance which should boost public interest. Obviously the Knights, Furries, and No Fans all folded but that in itself doesn't necessarily mean that new teams are doomed - look at the Nix!

Of course with foreign player restrictions this means Australia's talent will be more thinly spread but that works out fine for the Nix cos we can count Kiwis as local too

Canberra could have a team in an expanded A-League competition as soon as next season, Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy has revealed.

In an exclusive interview with Fox Sports FC, Lowy said that Canberra's bid met a lot of the requirements for an A-League licence and FFA would look to get the club operating in time for the start of the 2012-2013 season.

Canberra would be the better option atm, raised something like $4.5million already

I agree with Canberra, thought it strange they have a team in the W-League and not the A-League.  Plus another destination to check out for an away game.

I wonder if the FFA has looked at how the MLS has been managed and perhaps even sought advice for them. Both leagues operate in similar environments where mulitple other sports already dominate the market and although the MLS has gone through some teething problems it seems to be really strong now and only getting better. Obviously the USA has a huge population so will always be able to support at least some form of pro football (the real kind, not the tights and helmets kind) but the way the MLS has been developed over the last decade has been impressive nonetheless.

Good news about Canberra, although its not the most exciting destination for the travelling fan

Can we live with not being able to go to themeparks on away trips anymore? Yes we Can-berra

Longest week of my life was the two days I spent in Canberra

West Sydney it is for next year!

Poor Canberra

maybe Western Sydney AND Canberra?

...and Gold Coast? A 12 team league would be awesome.

and keep the 6 team playoffs so you actually have to be in the top half to make the cut

Despite it being announced,I still don't believe it!

Opening round Sydney Derby to kick off next season I guess.

Grrr Rrrrrrivals!

Just read good suggestion that they call themselves Adam West Sydney FC.