Well they're on the verge of relegation, so... They might be building their own home base but they're certainly not in prime position anymore, business or onfield-wise. Look to the teams in the FFA Cup instead. Comets have/had Santos Stadium which is our state athletics Stadium and Olympic just signed a coaching mentoring deal with PAOK, the Greek Superleague winners so teams are now moving further and further ahead of the pack.
www.ftbl.com.au
On the agenda again..
FFA confirms expansion may go beyond Canberra
FFA have confirmed that not only are Canberra in the running to have a new A-League club, but other currently unconfirmed consortiums as well.
Janakan Seemampillai Aug 25 2020 4:55PM
“Football Federation Australia (FFA) confirms that it has received several approaches from consortiums interested in acquiring a license to compete in the A-League – one of which is from the Canberra Region Football Collective,” said an FFA spokesperson.
“FFA will engage in confidence with consortiums and individuals interested in investing in the Australian football ecosystem, and will provide updates as applicable in due course.
“FFA is encouraged by the interest that exists in the market, and as stated in the recently released XI Principles for the future of Australian football discussion paper, expansion of Australia’s professional leagues is an ambition for the sport.”
FFA have declined to name the other interested consortiums but it is no secret that a number of other clubs would like to get into the A-League including former NSL giants South Melbourne and Wollongong. A team from South-East Melbourne dubbed Team 11, missed out in the December 2018 expansion announcement, but have not given up hope of getting into the A-League. The team was considering a base in Casey, a region where a brand new $8 million sporting hub was recently opened at Casey Fields
Meanwhile the 12th A-League club Macarthur FC have moved their training base from Campbelltown to Fairfield, after announcing last week they would train at the revamped Fairfield Showground. The Bulls were originally planning to train at Western Sydney University in Campbelltown, where a new multi million sports centre was supposed to house the Bulls as their main tenant from 2021. It is unknown if the Bulls will move back to Campbelltown once the facilities are complete.
The club’s indigenous program, The Charles Perkins Academy, which was introduced by former CEO Rabieh Krayem, appears to have shut its doors. The academy was supposed to be run by former Socceroos coach Frank Farina.
The club will still play games at Campbelltown Stadium where they have an excellent deal in place with Campbelltown Council.
Western United CEO Chris Pehlivanis has also confirmed there are no set plans for where the club will play home games next season. United who play Melbourne City for a spot in the Grand Final tomorrow night have been rumoured to be playing at Knights Stadium as they wait for their Joel ground at Tarneit to be built.
FFA confirms expansion may go beyond Canberra
FFA have confirmed that not only are Canberra in the running to have a new A-League club, but other currently unconfirmed consortiums as well.
Seems a bit suss in these times through I suspec It was all in the works before the pandemic.
also no surprise that Western United are still Gypsies..
I couldn't see it being built full stop. Joke of a club.
Clive Palmer's former club joins Canberra in race for A-League licence
Canberra's latest bid to join the A-League is already facing stiff competition, with two US-based investors keen to bring Clive Palmer's old club Gold Coast United back to the national stage.
The Canberra Region Football Collective (CRFC) went public on Tuesday, declaring it had made a formal offer to Football Federation Australia to either buy a new A-League licence or replace Central Coast if the Mariners can't find a suitable new owner.
FFA confirmed it had received an approach from Canberra but that it was just one of several parties interested in joining the A-League, which will expand to 12 teams next season with the addition of Macarthur FC.
Industry sources have indicated that Gold Coast United - who were booted from the A-League in 2012 but reformed three years ago in the Queensland NPL, without the involvement of maverick billionaire Palmer - have been in constant recent dialogue with FFA.
Like the CRFC bid, Gold Coast was overlooked in the last round of A-League expansion, but has retained the financial support of American investors Brett Johnson and Jordan Gardner, who have ownership ties to several clubs in the US and Europe.
"Our bid has never been taken off the table. We won't comment further," Gold Coast chairman Danny Maher told the Herald.
Gold Coast United were a success on the field, but lasted just three seasons in the A-League amid tension between owner Clive Palmer and then-FFA chairman Frank Lowy. Matt Roberts
A spokesperson for FFA said the federation was "encouraged" by the interest in the market and that further expansion of Australia's professional leagues was an ambition for the sport, as stated in the recent XI Principles discussion paper.
"FFA will engage in confidence with consortiums and individuals interested in investing in the Australian football ecosystem, and will provide updates as applicable in due course," the spokesperson said.
Both the FFA and the existing club owners are eager to grow the competition to 14 teams to enable a two-round home-and-away season - but while there is broad support for new franchises in locations like Canberra and Auckland, there are no formal plans in place for future expansion.
There is also huge uncertainty over the future of several clubs - particularly the Mariners and Newcastle Jets, who are both seeking new owners - not to mention the A-League as a whole, given the competition's broadcast deal…
Clive Palmer's former club joins Canberra in race for A-League licence
Canberra's latest pitch to join the league is already facing stiff competition, with two US-based investors keen to bring Gold Coast United back to the…news.knowledia.com
Gold Coast again.. No thanks!
They are competing in the NPL Queensland which is essentially a second division.
www.news.com.au
Here ya go!
Investigation into $5 million ‘eyesore’
An independent audit has been launched into the $5 million stadium redevelopment of former Australian football powerhouse West Adelaide.
Mismanagement.
football in Australia has been hampered by marketers.
theworldgame.sbs.com.au
Australia legend Moore joins Canberra A-League bid team | The World Game
By Dave Lewis
The former Australia skipper, who spent three years as Brisbane’s Roar’s director of football will work in tandem with the existing head of football Ron Smith to mastermind coaching, player development and elite pathways for the Capital Region Football Collective (CRFC).
Backed by wealthy local family interests and European-based investors, CRFC are in discussions with FFA over buying into the competition, even if that means buying and relocating the financially-stricken Central Mariners.
Undaunted by the current financial tsunami threatening to submerge the future viability of the competition, CRFC director Michael Caggiano has sold Moore, 44, on the vision of a long-awaited team in the ACT.
“There’s great potential in the Canberra region, and being involved for the foundation of a club will be quite an exciting adventure,” said Moore.
“There is probably a feeling amongst the local community that they are always missing out, I can see there’s a real hunger and desire to be successful.
“Canberra is renowned for producing top players, names like Ned Zelic, Tom Rogic, Josep Simunic and Carl Valeri (come to mind).
“Whilst at Brisbane Roar (between 2015-2018) I also recruited Kai Trewin who has already gone on to feature in the first team.
“It’s fair to say that we are all finding life a bit of a struggle at the moment with Australian football.
“It has had some really good times, but it is feeling a bit stale.
“Having the opportunity for a new club from a new region to come in, I think is something exciting that will enable a lot more interest in the game in general."
With TV rights holders Fox Sports to end their 15-year relationship with the A-League at the end of next season, and no obvious replacement in sight, Moore added: “In terms of broadcast rights and what that looks like moving forward, we need to offer something fresh and new to be able to get that interest in the game again.”
Moore jets to the UK this month, where he has a network of contacts amassed during his playing days with Rangers, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United, with a view to exploring opportunities for the project.
Capital Region FC co-director Bede Gahan said Moore’s appointment adds credence to CRFC’s ambitions.
“Craig is very highly regarded by Ron Smith so we are delighted to have someone of his experience and expertise on board,” Gahan said.
“I think this shows that we mean business, and we are continuing to build a world-class team of people to make sure that this club can be successful from day one.”
The ACT bid came close to landing a licence in the last round of expansion and is believed to have $5 million at its disposal to propel its bid to become the A-League’s 13th team.
It also has the backing of the ACT government with an in-principle agreement to provide up to 1.5 million in annual funding through cash and payroll tax exemptions.
Australia legend Moore joins Canberra A-League bid team
Socceroos great Craig Moore has joined the Canberra-based bid team chasing an A-League licence for 2021-2022, signing up for the fledgling entity’s football department.
