Wollongong wants A-League

[victorythe1]

WOLLONGONG is being touted as the site of a new A-League team, with reclusive media mogul Bruce Gordon and Socceroo Scott Chipperfield being courted to lead the franchise bid.

If successful, Wollongong would become the third team in NSW to Victoria's one. Canberra, North Queensland and possibly the Gold Coast are being considered for the remaining slot in what Football Federation Australia hopes will be a 10-team A-League by 2009.

Gordon, 77, is a business associate of FFA chairman Frank Lowy, and was previously involved in the consortium that owned former National Soccer League champions Wollongong Wolves.

Based in Bermuda, he is owner of the WIN Corporation, a strategic stakeholder in Channel Ten, and was ranked 14th in the latest BRW rich list, with a fortune estimated at $1.2 billion.

Former Wolves championship-winner Chipperfield is likely to be the face of the bid. Chipperfield has made it clear he will return to Australia as soon as Wollongong is accepted into the A-League. He recently signed a new contract with his Swiss club, FC Basel, until 2009, but says he will cut short his stay if necessary.

Five former Wolves — Sasho Petrovski, Alvin Ceccoli, Justin Pasfield, Jacob Timpano and Ruben Zadkovich — are now on the books of Sydney FC, which attracted an encouraging crowd of 6634 to last weekend's pre-season match against Perth Glory at Wollongong's WIN Stadium.

The franchise would include private investors led by Gordon, the Wollongong City Council, the WIN Stadium Trust, the Illawarra Football Association, and some shareholders of the Wollongong Wolves, who now play in the NSW Premier League.

Sydney FC will return to WIN Stadium for Friday night's pre-season semi-final against Adelaide United, with officials confident of a 10,000-plus crowd.

Sydney FC publicly has supported a Wollongong bid, and WIN Stadium officials have said that plans to rebuild the western grandstand would be fast-tracked if a local team is accepted into the A-League.

It is believed FFA will open the door for submissions of interest at the end of the year.

Wollongong's chances of joining the A-League have been boosted further by a change in planning by FFA. The success of the inaugural season, the financial security offered by the new $120 million Fox Sports deal, and the offer of four qualifying spots in the Asian Champions League have accelerated expansion plans.

Meanwhile, Spaniard Miguel Angel Lotina has been linked to the vacant Socceroos coaching job. The 49-year-old has been out of work since leaving club Espanyol at the end of last season.

And Socceroos striker John Aloisi, who is in dispute with his relegated Spanish club Alaves, is considering an offer to follow fellow international Tony Popovic to the cashed-up Qatar league.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/wollongong-wants-aleague/2006/08/08/1154802889443.html

[RobyB]

Sorry to double up this article but i think this gives a clearer story. I think the impression here is that it's the FFA that is driving the bid
www.smh.com.au/news/af...88135.html

WIN-win situation to get Wollongong into A-League

RECLUSIVE media mogul Bruce Gordon has been approached to help bankroll a Wollongong-based team in the A-League.

The Bermuda-based businessman, owner of WIN Corporation, and now a strategic stakeholder in Channel Ten, was ranked 14th in the latest BRW rich list, with a fortune estimated at $1.2 billion. Gordon, 77, was previously involved in the consortium that owned former NSL champions Wollongong Wolves, but rarely took an active interest in the club.

However, Gordon, a long-time business associate of Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy, is being courted to return to football as the leading stakeholder of a new Wollongong-based team, which could join the A-League in time for the 2008-09 season.

The new franchise, which is hoping to spread its influence from the southern edges of Sydney to the Victorian border, would include private investors led by Gordon, the Wollongong City Council, the WIN Stadium Trust, the Illawarra Football Association and some shareholders of the Wollongong Wolves, who now play in the NSW Premier League.

The face of the bid is likely to be Socceroos star and former Wolves championship winner Scott Chipperfield, who says he will return to Australia as soon as Wollongong are accepted into the A-League. He recently signed a new contract with his Swiss club, FC Basel, until 2009, but is willing to cut short his stay.

Chipperfield was one of three Illawarra juniors (along with Mile Sterjovski and Luke Wilkshire) who played for Australia in the decisive World Cup match against Italy - a clear reminder of the playing strength of an area that has historically been a strong football region. Five former Wolves - Sasho Petrovski, Alvin Ceccoli, Justin Pasfield, Jacob Timpano and Ruben Zadkovich - are on the books of Sydney FC, who attracted an encouraging crowd of 6634 to last weekend's pre-season match against Perth Glory at WIN Stadium.

In a clear indication of the FFA's enthusiasm to continue testing the Illawarra market, Sydney FC will return to WIN Stadium for Friday night's pre-season semi-final against Adelaide United, with officials confident of a 10,000-plus crowd. If Sydney win the match, the final of the tournament will be held at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday week.

Significantly, Sydney FC have publicly supported a Wollongong bid, while WIN Stadium officials have made it clear plans to rebuild the western grandstand will be fast-tracked if a local team is accepted into the A-League.

Wollongong Wolves, who had been considering a bid of their own, will now concentrate on completing their facilities at Lysaght's Oval and strengthening their position in the NSWPL. Thus, for the first time, there will be a unified approach to an A-League bid.

Wollongong's chances of joining the A-League, meantime, have been further boosted by a change in planning by the FFA. When the competition was launched last year, the FFA suggested the A-League was unlikely to be enlarged for at least five years, but the success of the inaugural season, the financial security offered by the new $120 million Fox Sports deal and planned changes in the Asian Champions League have brought forward expansion plans.

It is believed the FFA will open the door for submissions of interest at the end of the year - mindful that by 2009 the competition will preferably be a 10-team league in order to capitalise on an offer for four qualifying spots in the ACL.

Apart from Wollongong, the other centres believed to under consideration are Canberra, North Queensland and perhaps the Gold Coast. Existing teams have exclusivity in their own areas until 2010.

[Clint]

If successful, Wollongong would become the third team in NSW to Victoria's one.
Seriously... can't people count?

What's Wollongong's stadium like?

[Richo]

Seriously... can't people count?
Lmao, thats the first thing I thought of.

[Dasher39]

What's Wollongong's stadium like?

WIN Stadium Info Page (http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=139)

WIN Stadium Thread 1 (http://www.austadiums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1770)

WIN Stadium Thread 2 (http://www.austadiums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1123) (contains lots of photos)

[El Zilcho]

Sorry to double up this article but i think this gives a clearer story. I think the impression here is that it's the FFA that is driving the bid

That article is almost exactly the same, with a few words different here and there...

[Socceroo_06]

they may want to work on their stadium first.

[Popos]

they may want to work on their stadium first.
How old is that photo?

I'm not sure but I think WIN stadium transported in bits from Gold Coast to Wollongong, that may explain why I remember a big looking stadium on the Gold Coast that I can find no evidence of.

[Dasher39]

How old is that photo?

I'm not sure but I think WIN stadium transported in bits from Gold Coast to Wollongong, that may explain why I remember a big looking stadium on the Gold Coast that I can find no evidence of.Those photos were taken in April 2005, so they are fairly recent. No major work has been done to the stadium since.

It is weird how they put a little kink in the grandstand.

With regards to a stadium moved from the Gold Coast. There was a stadium moved from Tweed Heads down to Wollongong which was to form a new rectangular stadium. Currently all the pieces of the jigsaw are still lying around and haven't been placed together.

WIN Stadium is by far the better option for a Wollongong team. Amazingly picturesque location too right on the beach!

[Socceroo_06]

How old is that photo?

I'm not sure but I think WIN stadium transported in bits from Gold Coast to Wollongong, that may explain why I remember a big looking stadium on the Gold Coast that I can find no evidence of.

its from 2005, but i'm pretty sure that still exist there now. its right next to the hill which i hope they would build over before the 'gong is excepted into the a-league.

[agitator]

WIN Stadium is by far the better option for a Wollongong team. Amazingly picturesque location too right on the beach!it's an easy ground to get to. if i remember correctly the ground is about a 100-200 metre walk from the main station. and yeah, the beach is on the other side of the fence on the grass hill side.

[T.S.R]

You'd have a great home end there if they could pack it out!

[Dasher39]

its from 2005, but i'm pretty sure that still exist there now. its right next to the hill which i hope they would build over before the 'gong is excepted into the a-league.What I would like to see is just a bottom tier of seats put in on the hill area. Extending the grandtand along the Eastern Hill Area will ruin that side of the ground and the view across the ocean.

The newspaper report said that a team may fastrack the redevelopment of the Western Stand. What I would like to see is that Northern Stand extended along the Western Side of the ground.

The potential is there for a fantastic stadium.

Also considering how much everyone loves standing room, I am surprised anyone would want to build over a whole wing of standing room area.

[XYNO]

How strong do the winds come in off the shore? Doesn't look like it's very protected?

[Liam]

Those who are complaining that New South Wales are getting a forth team at Victora's expense are forgetting that Victoria have no quality rectangular stadiums outside Melbourne (and ours isnt built yet!), where as because of the New South Wales connection with rugby, the stadium infrastructure is far greater making it cheaper to start up a new team. If a team started up in Geelong, Gippsland or Bendigo there would be no suitable stadium to help attract new fans. Wollongong is the best option for the A-League; it would play at a beautiful stadium and football has a lot of respect up there. Hopefully the Victorian government can pull out their finger and begin plans to build rectangular stadiums (that could potentially be expanded) in key growth areas in order to give new franchises in Victoria a push in the right direction.

[agitator]

How strong do the winds come in off the shore? Doesn't look like it's very protected?not sure how strong the winds are but you get no protection from the elements at all. my memory is a bit vague as when i went there i spent the second half asleep on the other side of the hill. as it was a night match that'll teach me for drinking non-stop from mid-day, (yes i know, weak as piss :( )

[victorythe1]

Seriously... can't people count?

What's Wollongong's stadium like?

haha

if Wollongong enters the a-league that would be nsw fourth fuckin' team FFS

[XYNO]

not sure how strong the winds are but you get no protection from the elements at all. my memory is a bit vague as when i went there i spent the second half asleep on the other side of the hill. as it was a night match that'll teach me for drinking non-stop from mid-day, (yes i know, weak as piss :( )

i was actually more concerned with the playing conditions, than spectator comfort, football in high winds sux big time

[Dasher39]

haha

if Wollongong enters the a-league that would be nsw fourth fuckin' team FFSWell where else are they going to come from?

Name me one other city in Victoria that could REALISTICALLY sustain an A-League side? Simple none.

The future lies in these cities:

Townsville
Canberra
Wollongong
Gold Coast

If all 4 were to get in, that would see 3 teams from Qld, 4 from NSW and 1 from Vic, ACT, SA and WA. I don't hear anyone complain about 3 Queensland sides.

[victorythe1]

Well where else are they going to come from?

Name me one other city in Victoria that could REALISTICALLY sustain an A-League side? Simple none.

The future lies in these cities:

Townsville
Canberra
Wollongong
Gold Coast

If all 4 were to get in, that would see 3 teams from Qld, 4 from NSW and 1 from Vic, ACT, SA and WA. I don't hear anyone complain about 3 Queensland sides.

ok ok i think its just we hate NSW

[victorythe1]

im really happy about 1 Melbourne team for now!! untill a second melbourne is able to enter the a-league :D

[shoot goal]

Who cares how many teams are from what states?

Melbourne Victory has the chance to grab all the Victorian support and be a monster of a team with all the sponsorship dollars concentrated at our club - and as we know money talks...

[hellas7]

Mobil park is the best venue outside of melbourne for soccer in Victoria, and i dont wanna hear kardinia park lol, mobil park is the only soccer specific stadium outside of melbourne that could hold a decent crowd.

[oz mackem]

Those who are complaining that New South Wales are getting a forth team at Victora's expense are forgetting that Victoria have no quality rectangular stadiums outside Melbourne (and ours isnt built yet!), where as because of the New South Wales connection with rugby, the stadium infrastructure is far greater making it cheaper to start up a new team. If a team started up in Geelong, Gippsland or Bendigo there would be no suitable stadium to help attract new fans. Wollongong is the best option for the A-League; it would play at a beautiful stadium and football has a lot of respect up there. Hopefully the Victorian government can pull out their finger and begin plans to build rectangular stadiums (that could potentially be expanded) in key growth areas in order to give new franchises in Victoria a push in the right direction.

Plenty of grounds in Melbourne that hold well higher than CCM, Newcastle, Adelaide, NZK's average crowds.

[hellas7]

Plenty of grounds in Melbourne that hold well higher than CCM, Newcastle, Adelaide, NZK's average crowds.

I think he meant outside of Melbourne....geelong, morwell, bendigo etc.

[kevin_kyle]

Mobil park is the best venue outside of melbourne for soccer in Victoria, and i dont wanna hear kardinia park lol, mobil park is the only soccer specific stadium outside of melbourne that could hold a decent crowd.Mobil park?
Is that in Gippsland?
Morwell?

[agitator]

Mobil park?
Is that in Gippsland?
Morwell?
yeah, Crinigan Rd Reserve.

[hellas7]

Mobil park?
Is that in Gippsland?
Morwell?

Yep former national league venue, good one as well.

[Lizzy]

If a team started up in Geelong, Gippsland or Bendigo there would be no suitable stadium to help attract new fans.

Former NSL club Morwell Falcons played out of Mobil Park in Morwell.
It is of similar size to Epping stadium (from memory).

[paul57]

Gelong is a city with a population that could REAISTICALLY sustain an A league football team Did you Aussies do geogrphy at skool.

[victorythe1]

Melbourne Victory is gonna become like Newcastle Utd in England

[ScroTom]

Gelong is a city with a population that could REAISTICALLY sustain an A league football team Did you Aussies do geogrphy at skool.

Fuggin' imperialist wanker :mad:

Did they teach spelling in ol' Blighty?

[is17]

I don't mind Wollongong as one of the new teams - the population suits the A League and it is historically Football Heartland.

[Dasher39]

Gelong is a city with a population that could REAISTICALLY sustain an A league football team Did you Aussies do geogrphy at skool.Yes they have the population.

But by no means would they get the interest. Also where do they play? There is no facilty in Geelong suitable for a Football side.

Skilled Stadium is quite a bit longer than the MCG and people complain about the distance from the goals at the 'G, it would be substantially greater at Skilled.

It is not a REALISTIC option. Do they teach you reality in England?

[stu]

I think there should be 1 big Vic team and 9 NSW teams struggling for members. I like our chances.
Bring-em on!

Go Vic's!