Western Sydney in 2012

[Munga]

THERE are plans to fast-track a western Sydney team into the A-League next season.

And Socceroos captain Lucas Neill has revealed he could be swayed not only to invest in a new franchise, but to play for the club as well.

A club based in Sydney's west is firmly back on the agenda after Football Federation Australia last week revoked Clive Palmer's Gold Coast license.

And the Sunday Herald Sun has learned there are already tentative plans to use Parramatta Stadium as the new club's home ground.

ANZ Stadium has also been booked for three blockbuster matches.

Frank Lowy has grown impatient with previous failed efforts for the A-League to expand western Sydney.

But the FFA chairman remains resolute, this week saying: "Our prime objective is to be there. I won't rest until we have a team in western Sydney."

Neill has been sounded out about investing with the likes of businessmen Nick Tana, the former Perth Glory owner, smallgoods manufacturer Paul Lederer and investment guru Anton Tagliaferro.

The Socceroos skipper previously fronted Sydney Wanderers - a failed western Sydney bid - and revealed he was left drained and disillusioned after a fruitless 18 months.

But, despite having ruled out any involvement in a renewed western Sydney bid, Neill said he'd contemplate investing and playing for the club if approached.

He said: "I'd look at it (investing). It took a lot of time and energy the last time round and, for whatever reason, it didn't turn out positive, but I'm still a great believer in having a team from that region and I'd still support the idea.

"I'd still even look at playing some kind of role as both a player and some kind of future role down the track. But, until that actually becomes real, I'm not going to get involved in the talk, because for so long I got excited about the possibility and it didn't happen, and now I'm going to wait for it to be a reality.

"There haven't been any discussions and I haven't been approached. And with everything going on and me not being in the country all the time, then I can't put time and energy towards it again, especially if I'm in a situation if it may lead to nothing."

Plans for a western Sydney team went into overdrive a week ago when the Palmer situation came to a head.

 

[coolknot]

 

[EBUS]

Excellent post, would read again.

 

[coolknot]

Excellent post, would read again.

 

[Luigi742]

What's that? We just had two expansion attempts fail, and one's on the road to failure. So what does the FFA do, expand of course!

 

[mojito]

Something on your mind there ck?

 

[AJ_2000]

Yikes.

Read this earlier today, and have been expecting this for the last few weeks once Clive officially threw his toys out of the cot.

Really massive concerns about this expansion. Botched up last time around with lack of funding, but coming in to the league with 6 months lead time is a huge concern. I remember reading articles earlier this year about Heart wishing they had 1 more year before entering the league (30 mths instead of 18) yet we are going to go to the big market in a super quick period.

You will only get 1 crack at this market, and everyone will expect successd on and off field almost immediately.

Frank and the FFA will be desperate to get the team in to maintain the 5 games a week and also deliver a new TV rights deal, so I hope the FFA has plenty of spare cash to burn to keep this side afloat.

 

[mojito]

Yikes.

Read this earlier today, and have been expecting this for the last few weeks once Clive officially threw his toys out of the cot.

Really massive concerns about this expansion. Botched up last time around with lack of funding, but coming in to the league with 6 months lead time is a huge concern. I remember reading articles earlier this year about Heart wishing they had 1 more year before entering the league (30 mths instead of 18) yet we are going to go to the big market in a super quick period.

You will only get 1 crack at this market, and everyone will expect successd on and off field almost immediately.

Frank and the FFA will be desperate to get the team in to maintain the 5 games a week and also deliver a new TV rights deal, so I hope the FFA has plenty of spare cash to burn to keep this side afloat.

My sentiments exactly. Just hope they persist with it and don't throw the toys out of the pram if the first two seasons aren't profitable. That said, I think they'll see it through, it's Lowy's pet project.

 

[AJ_2000]

My worry is that with both expansion teams getting the axe, and the heart yet to really secure their foothold, that we move so quickly to fill out the numbers in a competition that is yet to deliver any return to investors tipping in big cash.

If the A league can't get it structures right (tv revenue, sponsors, membership, merchandise, better stadium deals) then its only a matter of time before all the big boys close their wallets and walk away.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

Western Sydney has potential to be a team that can break even and anything else is a bonus, the potential of that untapped market of football fans that never warmed to Sydney FC is huge. It can work, I don't think this is a kneejerk move.

 

[Puddy]

Another team is needed for the tv rights but there isnt really an ideal city to set a team up where there is no strong competition. Lowy doesnt really have a choice, a 10th team is needed

 

[mojito]

Another team is needed for the tv rights but there isnt really an ideal city to set a team up where there is no strong competition. Lowy doesnt really have a choice, a 10th team is needed

What do you mean?

 

[Zidane98]

I would prefer Canberra then Western Sydney tbh.

 

[Freomaniac]

I would prefer Canberra then Western Sydney tbh.

I disagree. with Western Sydneys population around 1.5-2 million people can easily get decent crowds of over 10,000 at every home game Just like Victory and Roar. Canberras population is similar to NQFs home city, Townsville: Around 300,000

Out of All the expansion clubs, Heart has been the best at least they get 9,000 at home even though the majority of their fans are ex victory supporters.

Gold Coast has disppointed me only because of the owner. I loved NQF. but I reckon they came 5 years too early. Considering their population of 300,000 they managed to get around 7,000 at the game.

 

[coolknot]

I'm an ex Victory supporter current Heart supporter.

 

[Freomaniac]

Yikes.

Read this earlier today, and have been expecting this for the last few weeks once Clive officially threw his toys out of the cot.

Really massive concerns about this expansion. Botched up last time around with lack of funding, but coming in to the league with 6 months lead time is a huge concern. I remember reading articles earlier this year about Heart wishing they had 1 more year before entering the league (30 mths instead of 18) yet we are going to go to the big market in a super quick period.

You will only get 1 crack at this market, and everyone will expect successd on and off field almost immediately.

Frank and the FFA will be desperate to get the team in to maintain the 5 games a week and also deliver a new TV rights deal, so I hope the FFA has plenty of spare cash to burn to keep this side afloat.

Thats why im hoping West Sydney does the same thing as Heart did. Heart came out the blocks well. They also recruited pretty good as well. They nearly made the finals in their 1st season and might do so this season.

 

[Freomaniac]

My worry is that with both expansion teams getting the axe, and the heart yet to really secure their foothold, that we move so quickly to fill out the numbers in a competition that is yet to deliver any return to investors tipping in big cash.

If the A league can't get it structures right (tv revenue, sponsors, membership, merchandise, better stadium deals) then its only a matter of time before all the big boys close their wallets and walk away.

Well after this 2011-2012 season ends, the A-League TV rights deal is up for grabs after the 2012-13 season.

I know this might sound a bit of a shock but despite the tought times recently, I reckon the next deal will be better. The Crowds have been decent in 9 of the 10 teams this year.

 

[Freomaniac]

What do you mean?

What Puddy means is that Despite having around 1.5-2 million living in western sydney, hes worried where they should be located as theres areas like Blacktown, Parramatta and other areas in west sydney with a population of 300,000 each.

It seems Parramatta Stadium is going to be their home ground. Id Prefer Leichart oval as its still in West Sydney and 5kms outside of the cbd.

 

[Freomaniac]

What's that? We just had two expansion attempts fail, and one's on the road to failure. So what does the FFA do, expand of course!

As I said...

Fury was decent horrible squad but good crowds. Had they had a population the size of gold coast of 500,000 they would of got a healthy 10,000 at home games.

GCU were the opposite of fury. Good squad but horrible crowds. Gold Coast showed potiential, They just had the wrong type of owner. Even though they got 5,500 on average in their 1st season, they got just over 10,000 when they hosted the Roar.

Heart has done both, Been competitve and got decent crowds as well.

FFA expanded at the Wrong areas. West Sydney will work well, as Will wollongong/South Coast if they get their chance. As would a 2nd Brisbane team hosting games at Ballymoore stadium but thats a decade away.

A-league is fine. Just need the patience and right management.

 

[coolknot]

I agree with Freomaniac.

 

[AJ_2000]

Thats why im hoping West Sydney does the same thing as Heart did. Heart came out the blocks well. They also recruited pretty good as well. They nearly made the finals in their 1st season and might do so this season.

Heart had spent the best part of 2 years getting their house in order, here we could be looking at 6 months at best for West Sydney, and they have nothing right now.

You need to be very competitive in a new market from day 1 to get the interest from the locals. Without a club/manager right now they are stuffed for 2012/13. Heart signed Bolton & Colosimo in the finals series along with other key players at this time of year.

For me it is way too rushed.

 

[Mr_Bojangles]

As I said...

Fury was decent horrible squad but good crowds. Had they had a population the size of gold coast of 500,000 they would of got a healthy 10,000 at home games.

GCU were the opposite of fury. Good squad but horrible crowds. Gold Coast showed potiential, They just had the wrong type of owner. Even though they got 5,500 on average in their 1st season, they got just over 10,000 when they hosted the Roar.

Heart has done both, Been competitve and got decent crowds as well.

FFA expanded at the Wrong areas. West Sydney will work well, as Will wollongong/South Coast if they get their chance. As would a 2nd Brisbane team hosting games at Ballymoore stadium but thats a decade away.

A-league is fine. Just need the patience and right management.

How dare you bring this glass half full attitude in to the Australian Football subforum, it's in vogue to bag out the A-league at the moment it seems.

The Sutherland Shire is a massive area as far as 'the heartland' goes so they could well have their own team some time in the future but not now. West Sydney will work well but can't be rushed but it will be interesting to see what Lowy Inc can cope up with in such a short space of time. Done right West Sydney can average 10k easily.

 

[Freomaniac]

How dare you bring this glass half full attitude in to the Australian Football subforum, it's in vogue to bag out the A-league at the moment it seems.

The Sutherland Shire is a massive area as far as 'the heartland' goes so they could well have their own team some time in the future but not now. West Sydney will work well but can't be rushed but it will be interesting to see what Lowy Inc can cope up with in such a short space of time. Done right West Sydney can average 10k easily.

Im not trying to bag out the A-league. Even though Fury and GCU are gone, There were some positives when they were there.

Fury didnt have a lot of money but they managed to draw 7-8,000 people at home games.

At Gold Coast, Ignore Clive Palmer. GCU managed to make the finals in their 1st season. On the Field they were competitve at least. They also played Entertaining Football.

 

[mojito]

Im not trying to bag out the A-league. Even though Fury and GCU are gone, There were some positives when they were there.

Think you'll find he was taking the mickey

 

[Freomaniac]

Think you'll find he was taking the mickey

Yeah I thought so. Its a bit hard to take the mickey out of some things in a serious crisis we have now. This stuff as had its share of the back pages recently.