3 points always suspended Western Sydney Wanderers FC

At least there are still 10 teams. I'm just not sure about this. I don't understand the demographics in Sydney as well as those in the FFA (should) but Sydney FC don't pull the strongest crowds and I would have thought this will hurt them to some extent while not forming the best base for the new team either. Do people from the western suburbs in Sydney not currently support Sydney FC?rjmiller2012-04-04 15:07:18

Why are they only sticking to 10 teams? If GCU can get their supporter/members owner consortium thing sorted, and Canberra has the dosh ready, why not have a 12 team competition? Surely that would only help the new tv deal?

Will be announced live on Sky at 2.15pm. Prime Minister and
Buckley are fronting the media together.

West Sydney is full of immigrants so football is the number one game.

Guessing 2.15pm Sydney time?

I'm pedantic and just want an even league. I think we should drop.. ooo I dunno.. Melbourne Victory to keep GCU in? Azevo2012-04-04 15:54:00

Do these immigrants historically not support sydney fc for some reason?

Strong links to the old NSL clubs I think. Will be interesting if they can convert them to 'new soccer', but would they back a team owned by the FFA?

Hope they go for Wanderers as a name, seems to fit better I think.

Unicorns FTW.

Probably don't understand English.

Julia Gillard unveiled an $8 million funding package for football developement in West Sydney.$1 million dollars to be allocated to the developement of women's football.Sounds good?

The trouble with this gov. is that anything they do tends to go tits up.

Leggy2012-04-04 17:33:24

Honestly, it looks doomed to fail. Whoever the pick for the CEO, has a massive task on their hands. With the FFA funding it, they will hand pick someone to follow the plans they have. The same plans none of Lowry's mates thought would work.

Ive seen the interview and I don't think it will fail.

Surely you can understand the skepticism though leggy? No matter what interviews you may have seen

Of course.

Hopefully it does work out mind you. After pushing way too hard for it for so long,it would be devastating if it did fail.

Football in West Sydney is a slam dunk - but if anyone can f**k it up, the FFA can.  And the you add politicians into the mix....geez, that makes me worried!

Looks like the nickname Unicorns might stick.

Reddy for their first keeper? Halloran will end up there because he has a FFA contract. Wonder who will end up as the coach.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/6697158/Western-Sydney-to-have-new-A-League-team

Leading rugby league identities expressed no concern about the round ball code joining the AFL's GWS Giants as another rival in the battle for the hearts, minds and dollars of western Sydney residents.

Australian Rugby League commission chief executive David Gallop said football was already a competitor to his code, which he felt enjoyed a generational loyalty stretching back over 100 years.

"While we focus on continuing to improve our development plans in western Sydney, we should remain very confident of how rugby league is placed in that area," Gallop said.

Bulldogs' star Michael Ennis didn't feel threatened by other codes, no matter how much money they spent.

"Money doesn't change people's passion for rugby league. I think we're pretty safe there," Ennis said.

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler suggested the FFA should address areas closer to home.

"From what I see in the papers and from what I hear in the media, it sounds like they've got to get their admin sorted out and the way they run the game before they even think about becoming a threat anywhere," Hasler said.

<!-- PushDartJSAd('STORY', 3, 300, 250, '300x250'); //-->

Prospective cross-town rival Sydney FC welcomed the imminent arrival of the new club.

"We live in a city of five million people and we have always said there is room for two professional football teams," Sydney FC acting CEO Stefan Kamasz said.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced an $8 million funding pack for football development in western Sydney.

It includes $5 million to be allocated to improvement of facilities with $1 million of that to go towards the development of women's football and the W-League, while the remaining $3 million will be used for the redevelopment of the Football NSW headquarters.

The package was attacked by another prominent female Labor politician in former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally, who is now chairman of Basketball Australia.

"This sort of major expenditure cannot continually be made on behalf of a select few sports at the expense of other high participation codes like basketball," Keneally said.

George Costanza2012-04-05 08:39:48

I am wondering how fast they have rushed this team to be formed with the inevitable demise of Gold Coast.

No logo, no colours, no name, no anything.

Unicorns...

Phoenix got its act together 1st season very quickly.

So far, all they have announced is the idea. They need to get the CEO and Coach in place asap. We had a natural choice for a coach and a supporters group before Terry even got the licence.

hmmm I think playing at ANZ stadium is tad ambitious...

Doubt they will play at ANZ, more than likely Parramatta.Leggy2012-04-05 20:27:44

ANZ stadium is extremely cheap.  They're so desperate for sport that you basically get to play there for free.  In the past the stadium has invested in sports teams so they will play there.  There will deffo be games at ANZ - whether that is a good idea is a different question.  Can imagine it being pretty full for a sydney derby

No mention of their nickname yet, the Cove must not have noticed yet.

They must have just noticed it then.

I guess its a payoff between price and atmosphere - if they are gettting 10-15,000 a game then ANZ would just seem empty, whereas Parramatta Stadium would be buzzing. The question is whether the cost of ANZ would be cheap enough for them to play there - even if its cheaper than Parramatta crowd numbers might be less if the atmosphere isn't good, so the total profit might go down. I think Parramatta seems to have a good atmosphere for league games so should for football as well. But you're probably right about the Sydney derby games, I can see them getting more than the capacity of Parramatta Stadium along to them.

Parramatta is also very close to the trains. Not sure if that is the same for ANZ?

The trains go right to ANZ too

ANZ Stadium pays the clubs to play there, so it is attractive. But they need to play out of Parramatta, it makes the most sense.

could have fun with that nickname

to tune of - We love you Phoenix we do

"You're just a horse with two pricks"


and the "Eyore" chant could finish after last "Eyore" with "Pfffttt" as the Uni-donkey vanishes in a mystical puff of smoke

Wouldn't be surprised to see Tony P pop up as West Sydney's CEO

He was close to the Sydney job before they head hunted Melton, so I think he will get it this time.

While everything's so rosy and optimistic, call it Western Sydney United. 

I can't see any problem there.

That's what I like most about you Traitor.Optimist.