That Western Sydney-Wollongong 'Merger'

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Matthew Hall

Finally, the truth about A-League expansion can be told.

It took a few weeks, agreed, but we now know what is (as well as what isn't) going on. It goes something like this: There was a lot of talk about the A-League while the Socceroos were in Sydney for the most recent World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan and none of it was about which players were considering returning from Europe to play in Australia.

Much of the discussion was about Lucas Neill's involvement in a new team to be based in Western Sydney and Tim Cahill's role with South Coast FC, a rival bid for the one place available in 2010 (after a second Melbourne team has been guaranteed a place).

Throw in a few questions about Harry Kewell's interest, or otherwise, in such ventures and tongues are bound to wag.

So they did.

The talk was that Neill and Cahill were considering merging their respective bids to form a regional super club. Football Federation Australia loved the idea, apparently, and CEO Ben Buckley even said on record that the governing body had held talks with Wollongong about the idea.

Few people, though, would talk on the record about the plan. There was a reason for this - it might be a dud idea.

But this week, South Coast FC bid chairman Eddy De Gabriele surfaced (after a bit of prodding from yours truly) to explain what is going on. It's quite simple. This was a South Coast idea and South Coast is on its own on this one.

Why? Easy. It's bid appears doomed because of a couple of issues:

- Wollongong's WIN Stadium is currently a shambles (although this may change over time)
- Football Federation Australia is determined to launch a team in Western Sydney.

Oh.

De Gabriele is a fighter, however, and determined to bring A-League football to the South Coast. So, he's thought outside of the box. Why not turn South Coast FC into a regional team with a footprint that extends up through Campbelltown to Western Sydney?

"I can assure you there have been no merger talks," said De Gabriele.

Instead, South Coast wants Western Sydney and wants it bad. So much so that De Gabriele has turned the bid inside out. In his mind, Western Sydney's relationship should be with the South Coast not the city's CBD and East. Part of this theory is down to growing economic links between the two regions, bolstered in part by Port Kembla expansion and the M7 freeway. It's an intriguing mix of local geopolitics.

"For the good of football, this is not against the other bids," De Gabriele said. "Western Sydney might take in the South Coast, and that is possible too. It is for all of us to revisit our model and see what is best for the community and the viability of the bid. Things have changed in the three years since we have started this process."

So, Wollongong gets a team and so does Western Sydney. Sort of. Games would be split between the two regions, with WIN Stadium's upgrade being part of a deal. At least the team might be easy to name - Compromise FC.

On paper, it might appear a great idea but there's one hurdle even if FFA does end up loving it. One word: fans.

Does someone in Western Sydney have much affinity for the South Coast? I think not.

Does someone from Wollongong have any feelings for Parramatta? Not really.

Do we feel strong enough about New South Wales to support a regional super team? It's a hard sell - but maybe for the South Coast, it's the last roll of the dice.

COMMENTS

rather unfeasible isn't it, if your a fan that lives in penrith and is willing to travel to parramatta stadium to watch a game, but would they travel all the way to wollongong to watch it?

It's just the same as Sydney FC not getting enough western sydney fans to the games because of the location of the SFS. This ploy is only for the FFA to claim there steak of the pie in Western Sydney, and South Coast want to capitalise.

What's wrong with a South Coast FC and Western Sydney as seperate identites. I live in the Inner-West of Sydney and i wouldn't travel all the way to Wollongong to watch a so called 'home' game

by thom on April 19, 2009 at 01:13 PM

Agree that a regional super team is not the way to go esp based on local allegiances (as Matthew highlights) - the ARL's phony merger of St George and Illawarra is a fine example of such a flop.

The western Sydney bid is highly likely to get the nod by FFA over South Coast and Canberra, with the much larger market place/catchment (2 million plus residents) the biggest factor, and a team for arguably the cradle of football in Australia.

I'm sure in another 2-3 years both Canberra and the South Coast will be in a much stronger position to establish and successfully run HAL clubs - timing is so critical and its not yet their time.

by Pablo on April 19, 2009 at 01:24 PM

I doubt this will work. You summed it up in asking does any of these fans in the area care about each other?

West Sydney is big enough to support a team in its own right. I believe the Liverpool area has always been the grass roots for football with great clubs such as Marconi.

by Ben Smith on April 19, 2009 at 09:09 PM

Noooooo! You're selling us out De Gabriele! The people of the South Coast don't want another "merger" with a Sydney region. I can already just see the media forgeting the South Coast and the Illawarra just like they do with the Dragons. It'll just be a Western Sydney team with a few token Scott Chipperfields and Luke Wilkshires from the South Coast. We've already lost the Steelers, the Wolves, on the verge of losing the Hawks, why don't you just kicks us while we're down? If the FFA were smart they would just move Sydney FC out west if they want to enter the Western Sydney market. I hear most of the Sydney FC supporters are from the west anyway. The SFS is in a horrible location and a pain in the a$$ to get to. Sydney FC will get a bigger crowd that way, be more profitable and be more accessable to Western Sydney. I'm sure the relatively small yet loyal legion of supporters form the North Shore and Eastern Suburbs wouldn't mind travelling to Homebush or what not to see a game.

by Angry South Coast FC fan on April 20, 2009 at 09:03 AM

The issue is not as simple as WS or SC. As there is no valid WS bid or no valid SC stadium it may be a case of super club across two regions or... Canberra gets the nod.
So, no A-League or a share of A-League is probably the choice

by DB10 on April 20, 2009 at 01:08 PM

We have waited a long time for a Westen Sydney A-League team...why should we share. You stated it perfectly Matthew the west does not care about Wollongong. Also the fact that Sydney FC have failed is that they have not captured the attentioon of Sydney's football heartland, Western Sydney...this merger from the start has been questionable.

by Srdjan on April 20, 2009 at 07:38 PM

The moment there is a feasible WS bid in, that is it for the South Coast, I'm afraid - at least for now.

There are a couple of options on the table for the FFA though - expansion to 14 or 15 teams is possible if all of Canberra, Tasmania and Wollongong stack up - although unless Qld Roar and Adelaide sort themselves out quickly, there won't be much appetite for risk, whatever spin the new A-League boss puts on expansion.

There's also the possibility that the AFC might just be serious about Wellington's continued existance in the A-league - which could free up an extra spot. Although, if Bin Hammam keeps his job (and Australia had better hope he does), he will owe Lowy/the FFA a couple of favours, which might save Wellington - unless of course, the FFA decide Wellington shouldn't be saved and need a convenient excuse to 'right-size' the league (i.e. accommodate everyone within a 14 team framework). Gotta love football politics.

Cheers
md

by md on April 21, 2009 at 10:08 AM

Angry South Coast FC fan has hit the nail right on the head and supported my comments in previous blogs.

1. Now that Sydney FC has gotten rid of the Lowy/Hakoah Eastern Suburbs affiliation, it's next step is to move its base out to Homebush and connect with the whole city - one town one team. (and by the way congrats to the FFA for a far more reasonable scheduling of Sydney FC matches for 09-10 - another sore point from my prior blogs) Sydney, along with Brisbane, is the most competitive football market in the world. It is still far too premature to consider a second Sydney team in such a fragile market. Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and Central Coast (which has incorporated a large chunk of the Northern Sydney by stealth - re Ku-Ring-gai). That just about taps out the NSW market and spreads the fan base far more equitably than a West Sydney team would. Western Sydney also smacks of a 'Marconi' flavour and for exactly the same reasons the 'Hakoah' influence needed to be exorcised, the Marconi influence needs to be avoided at all costs.

2. Wollongong is a totally seperate market, traditionally and from a socio- political perspective a far better and more natural football area. They held their own in the NSL days and perhaps only by hubris were they denied a spot in the original A-League line up. With their Rugby League identity compromised, their is a perfect opportunity for the A-League to cement an identity in the South. Look at the benefits they've received from the NRL's dilly dallying on the Central Coast.

FFA...take the lead and grab the south coast while you can and leave the whole of Sydney for one team. There are enough tribal derbies with four well positioned entities.

by Cav on April 26, 2009 at 06:55 PM

WHEN western sydney are admitted to the league, which they no doubt will be, it will be very interesting to see how it affects sydney fc's already relatively pathetic crowds.

The playing standard of the a-league is generally considered to be lower than the later years of the NSL. It would be a shame to see the crowd figures dip below NSL levels as well (in sydney they're barely better at the moment).

by will on May 03, 2009 at 12:54 PM

they should both have a team. and so should canberra. along with melbourne2 , that makes an extra 4. a 14-team league would be great!

by mk on May 03, 2009 at 04:01 PM

Pablo, St.George Illawarra is not a flop. Equal top of the table and a Premiership just around the corner.... Do one mate!

by Matt on May 04, 2009 at 08:41 PM

The Sun-Herald

Matthew Hall

That Western Sydney-Wollongong 'Merger'

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