Expansion of the A-League

The Expansion of the A-League is the ongoing process of establishing new clubs in the A-League. The A-League was established to replace the NSL as the top soccer division in the Australian league system and is the only fully professional league in the country. It was founded in 2004 with eight teams commencing competition in 2005 and has since expanded into new markets across Australia and New Zealand. The league is currently contested by 10 teams, although a total of 13 have competed at some stage in its short history.

In February 2018, officials announced that the league would expand to 12 teams for the 2019–20 season.[1][2] Football Federation Australia has pledged to announce two new licenses for the league by 31 October 2018.[3]

Initial teams

Progression of A-League Expansion
Season # Teams
2005–06 8
2006–07
2007–08
2008–09
2009–10 10
2010–11 11
2011–12 10
2012–13
2013–14
2014–15
2015–16
2016–17
2017–18

Football Federation Australia (FFA) exercised caution when forming the A-League in early 2004; in terms of selecting who was to be part of the new league. FFA decided upon a 'one city – one team' principle in order to protect the initial development of the foundation clubs.

The initial eight teams selected were Adelaide United FC, Brisbane Roar FC (formerly Queensland Roar FC), Central Coast Mariners FC, Melbourne Victory FC, Newcastle Jets FC, Perth Glory FC, Sydney FC and New Zealand Knights FC. Of these 8 clubs, only the New Zealand Knights have failed to survive, folding after the 2006–07 season.

Expansion

Before the introduction of the A-League, FFA chairman Frank Lowy speculated that he hoped to expand the league into other cities, citing Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Wollongong, Coffs Harbour, Geelong, Bendigo, Cairns, Ballarat, Albury–Wodonga, Launceston, Christchurch, Auckland, Sunshine Coast, and possibly Darwin.[4][5][6][7]

Wellington (2007)

In late October 2006, as a result of low crowd attendance at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland and continual poor on-field performances, rumours began to circulate that the FFA was considering revoking the A-League licence of the only New Zealand based A-League club, New Zealand Knights FC, and granting it to a new club that would enter the competition in the 2007–08 season.[8] The FFA had continued to express angst at low attendance numbers, poor on-field performance and the lack of domestically developed players. On 14 December, the FFA announced that it had revoked the competition licence held by the Knights' owners,[9] and on 19 March 2007 after several delays,[10] Wellington Phoenix was selected as the successor to the New Zealand Knights.[11]

Gold Coast and Townsville (2009)

In 2009, the league expanded in Gold Coast with the new club Gold Coast United FC and in Townsville with the club North Queensland Fury FC. Expansion into these new regions was seen as critical to the success of the 2022 Australian FIFA World Cup bid. In 2011, after the failed bid, North Queensland Fury was removed from the league due to financial instability. In 2012 Fury re-formed to participate in the National Premier League Queensland.[12] In 2012 the FFA revoked Clive Palmer's Gold Coast United A-League licence.[13]

Melbourne (2010)

After Melbourne Victory FC announced they would not be playing at the new Melbourne Rectangular Stadium unless it had a capacity of at least 30,000, the government suggested a second Melbourne team would play there. A consortium of investors made it clear that an operating budget of 5 to 6 million dollars per annum was feasible and a letter of interest from the soccer club had been sent to the FFA. In June 2008, it was revealed that three separate consortiums were bidding for second Melbourne franchise licence.[14] In September 2008, a bid led by Victorian businessman Peter Sidwell and operating under the working title Melbourne Heart Syndicate received exclusive negotiating rights an A-League licence. Sidwell's group was awarded the licence to join the 2010–11 season on 12 June 2009.[15] The new club was named Melbourne Heart FC, though prior to the 2014–15 season it was acquired by the City Football Group and has since been known as Melbourne City FC.

Western Sydney (2012)

After the scrapping of Sydney Rovers FC in 2010, the FFA approached the Greater Western Sydney Football Group, who were one of the losing groups in the bid for the second expansion, in order to assess whether they would be ready to enter the competition in the 2012–13 season. The team was to be based at ANZ Stadium, at Homebush and named "The Wanderers". After consultation the idea was dropped. On 4 April 2012, FFA CEO Ben Buckley announced the introduction of a "New Sydney Club" (Western Sydney Wanderers FC) for the 2012–13 season with the assistance of an $8 million federal grant.[16] The club was initially owned by the FFA after failing to find a backer but was subsequently sold to a consortium of businessmen led by Paul Lederer in June 2014.[17]

Future (2018)

In November 2016, A-League chief Greg O'Rourke gave a timetable for the possible addition of two new teams in the 2018–19 competition. Bids were explored by several clubs or consortia, including from Perth, Brisbane, Southern Sydney, Tasmania, Auckland, South East Melbourne, South Melbourne, Canberra and Wollongong.[18] The FFA later confirmed that that two clubs would be added to the league for the 2019-20 season.[19] Initially up to 15 bids were submitted to the FFA, though by mid-2018 the league had cut that number down to 10.[20] By the end of August 2018, the FFA had accepted bids from eight consortium's, representing the following locations; South West Sydney Macarthur (Sydney), Southern Expansion (Sydney region), Wollongong Wolves, Team 11 (South-East Melbourne), South Melbourne FC, Western Melbourne Group, Ipswich (Queensland), Canberra & Capital Region.[21]

Failed expansion efforts

Sydney (2011)

In 2009, a 12th licence was awarded to Sydney Rovers. The club soon became defunct after being awarded this licence.

Official bids

Brisbane City FC

Brisbane City FC was the only Brisbane-based bid for the A-League after the more-fancied Brisbane Strikers surprisingly withdrew from the process.[22] In any case, Brisbane City was not included in the final eight bids considered by the FFA in 2018.[21]

Canberra

The original Canberra-based bid, A-League4Canberra, was announced in July 2008. It was led by TransACT CEO Ivan Slavich and gained support from many local business leaders including the manager of Canberra Stadium, where the team was expected to be based. The FFA agreed to Slavich's request to extend the deadline for bids until mid-August, and Socceroo Carl Valeri and former Socceroo Ned Zelic became foundation members.[23]

On 10 May 2012, with the FFA announcing that A-League expansion beyond ten teams was on hold until 2015 in the wake of the establishment of a West Sydney-based side in time for the 2012–2013 season, A-League4Canberra suspended its efforts to secure a team for the Australian capital city, and the bid group was wound up.[24] There was no connection to Capital Football owned and operated W-League club Canberra United FC.

The second Canberra A-League bid, CBR & Capital Region A-League Bid, first started fact finding operations following FFA chairman, Steven Lowey, telling the media in October 2016 that the FFA was planning on a new round of expansion for the A-League.[25][26] In 2017 the FFA cooled on the idea of expansion and the Canberra bid remained dormant.[27] In February 2018 the FFA formally announced the A-League would expand to 12 teams and opened up expressions of interests (EOI).[28]

CBR & Capital Region A-League Bid, officially submitted its EOI and launched its bid in May 2018 along with fourteen other bids.[29] The bid leader was revealed to be ONTHEGO Sportswear employee Michael Caggiano. The bid team revealed the new Canberra bid would be built around a community ownership model using the DFB and Bundesliga principles of 50+1, with the community owning the majority of the voting rights.[30] The bid was shortlisted by the FFA on 29 June 2018 and progressed to the next more detailed submission phase along with nine other bids.[31]

The Canberra and broader region bid was included in the final eight bids considered by the FFA in 2018.[21]

Fremantle

Fremantle City FC launched their bid in early May 2018 though the club was not included in the final eight bids considered by the FFA.[21]

Gold Coast

In August 2017 it was announced that previous A-League club Gold Coast United FC had been reformed to represent the Gold Coast region in the Queensland National Premier League. As a part of the club's revival, chairman Danny Maher announced the club has intentions to re-enter the A-League and the W-League. Gold Coast was not included in the final eight bids considered by the FFA.[21]

Ipswich

Expansion into the Western suburbs of Brisbane has been boosted by the growth in population projected over the coming decades. Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale promised in August 2013 to build a 15,000 seat stadium at North Ipswich Oval if a licence was secured.[32] The region's bid for an A-League expansion position is further helped by the strong community ties of current NPL Queensland side Western Pride FC.[33] The bid was included in the final eight bids considered by the FFA in 2018.[21]

South East Melbourne

A team representing and playing in Melbourne's South East is assisted by the multicultural population of 1,700,000+ people residing in the region, which includes a high soccer participation rate. The region has also been left out of all national sporting competitions, including AFL, NRL, and the NBL which makes it hard for sporting fanatics that call the South East home to watch national league matches. The club is backed by Australian soccer icon Vince Grella, who grew up in the South East of Melbourne, as well as Socceroo, Jackson Irvine and several others. The Club envisages playing out of a boutique stadium with a minimum 10,000-capacity, with the capability to expand in future.

The six biggest soccer clubs in the local government areas of the Casey and Dandenong regions united for an official A-League bid in late 2016.[34] The region is considered one of Australia's fastest-growing in terms of population.[35] On 30 April 2018 the bid announced an intended home stadium location, to be located next to Dandenong railway station.[36] Casey Fields would be used as the club's training ground and administration base.[37] South East Melbourne was included in the final eight bids considered by the FFA in 2018.[21]

South Melbourne

Former NSL powerhouse and OFC Team of the Century South Melbourne FC launch a bid to receive an expansion license for the 2018–19 A-League season. The club argued it as advantaged by possessing the required $5 million capital, as well as access to Lakeside Stadium as both a training base and home ground, and finally an ability to simultaneously launch a W-League team.[38] South Melbourne FC was included in the final eight bids considered by the FFA in 2018.[21]

Southern Sydney/Macarthur

Southern Sydney has been identified by the FFA as a likely site for future expansion. The club would likely be based between the Illawarra and Sutherland Shire and include the St George area of Southern Sydney.[39] The area has a large number of junior soccer players but may be seen as encroaching on Sydney FC's and to a lesser extent Western Sydney Wanderers's base of supporters. By mid-2018, an additional bid had emerged, developing into a joint venture between South West Sydney and Macarthur. Both Southern Sydney and South West Sydney/Macarthur have been included in the final eight bids considered by the FFA in 2018.[21]

Tasmania

In October 2007, Football Federation Tasmania CEO Martin Shaw suggested that Tasmania would be a viable location for an A-League club, mentioning the fact that it would need support from state and local government. It has been suggested that such a team would play games in both Hobart and Launceston.[40][41] In 2008, a Tasmanian Football Taskforce was formed to investigate an A-League bid.[42][43] The Taskforce had registered the name "Tasmania United FC" and had submitted a bid for the 2011–12 season.[44] The Taskforce chose 25 November to launch the consortium to the press and named 'Motors' as a major sponsor.[45] A franchise in Tasmania will give the A-League a wider national representation than the AFL and NRL.[46] A sheikh from Dubai is being linked with Tasmania's bid for an A-League team.[47]

A Tasmania state representative team has been formed and has played pre-season friendlies such as against Melbourne Victory, indicating the possible colour scheme of a potential Tasmania club. A survey on the Tasmania United FC website found that the nickname "Wolves" was the most popular unused name amongst supporters of the consortium.[48] Tasmania's bid was rejected by the FFA at the middle stage of the bidding process, in June 2018.[20]

West Adelaide

Former NSL team West Adelaide SC announced an intention to enter the league as a second Adelaide team with advances made to make past Liverpool player Robbie Fowler their manager.[49] West Adelaide was not included in the final eight bids considered by the FFA in 2018.[21]

Wollongong

It is felt amongst most that the twice Australian Champions the Wollongong Wolves FC should be the team from the Illawarra, Former Wollongong star Scott Chipperfield has thrown his support behind them and Tim Cahill has joined the group, promising to establish a soccer academy in the region.[50] It has been rumoured the club will be backed by Bruce Gordon, Australia's 14th wealthiest person.[51] Supporting Wollongong's bid for admission into the A-League is its strong junior participation rates in soccer, with the region widely being regarded as a 'soccer heartland' along with Western Sydney.

By 2016 the Wollongong Wolves have begun to build momentum to push for admission into the A-League.[52] A round of 32 match of the FFA Cup against Sydney FC played on 10 August 2016 attracted a crowd in excess of 9,000 on a Wednesday night demonstrating a potential viability of the Wolves joining the A-League. Wollongong Wolves FC was included in the final eight bids considered by the FFA in 2018.[21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "FFA announce A-League expansion to 12 teams but clubs are wary of 'smokescreen'". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Davutovic, David (5 December 2016). "A-League expansion plans revealed with two new teams to join in 2018-19". www.heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "FFA receives eight final bids for Hyundai A-League Expansion". A-League. 31 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "ASA announce several significant initiatives". Football Federation Australia. 22 March 2004. Archived from the original on 9 September 2006.
  5. ↑ "A-League launch speech by FFA chairman Mr Frank Lowy AC". Football Federation Australia. 13 November 2004. Archived from the original on 12 September 2006.
  6. ↑ Osbourne, Paul (10 August 2006). "Chief talks up Townsville". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2007.
  7. ↑ Ormond, Aidan (4 January 2010). "Gippsland's A-League Call". Australian FourFourTwo. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  8. ↑ "NZ Football willing to rescue 'embarrassing' Knights". The New Zealand Herald. 14 December 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  9. ↑ "Knights have licence revoked by football body". The New Zealand Herald. 14 December 2006. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  10. ↑ "A-League deadline becomes 'a farce'". stuff.co.nz. 9 March 2007. Archived from the original on 18 March 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  11. ↑ "Kiwis alive as Townsville pulls pin". Fox Sports (Australia). 19 March 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  12. ↑ Butterworth, Liam. "Fury earns spot in Australian Premier League". Townsville Bulletin. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  13. ↑ "A-League revokes Gold Coast licence". Herald Sun. Melbourne: Herald and Weekly Times. 29 February 2012.
  14. ↑ "Three Melbourne teams hoping to join A-League". The Age. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  15. ↑ Reed, Ron (13 June 2009). "Melbourne awarded licence for second A-League team". Fox Sports (Australia). Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  16. ↑ "Western Sydney confirmed for A-League in 2012-13". ABC. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  17. ↑ "Western Sydney Wanderers sold to consortium of businessmen headed by Primo's Paul Lederer". ABC. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  18. ↑ Ben McKay and Vince Rugari. "A-League expansion bids line up". Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  19. ↑ "FFA calls for Expressions of Interest for new Hyundai A-League club licences". Hyundai A-League. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  20. 1 2 "Tasmania's hopes of featuring in an expanded A-League crushed as bid gets struck off shortlist". ABC News. 29 June 2018.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "FFA receives eight final bids for Hyundai A-League Expansion". A-League. 31 August 2018.
  22. ↑ "The 15 A-League expansion bids on deadline day | The World Game". The World Game. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  23. ↑ "No Canberra club 'is crazy'". FourFourTwo (Australia). 8 July 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  24. ↑ "Canberra Give In As FFA Pull Up the Ladder". FourFourTwo (Australia). 10 May 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  25. ↑ Helmers, Caden (2017-03-25). "Capital Football chief confirms Canberra A-League bid rumours". Canberra Times. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  26. ↑ Bossi, Dominic (2016-10-05). "Chairman Steven Lowy confirms FFA's plans to expand A-League to up to 16 teams". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  27. ↑ Gatt, Ray (2017-02-28). "Expanding current A-League model would be disastrous: FFA". The Australian. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  28. ↑ Bossi, Dominic (2018-02-16). "FFA announce A-League expansion to 12 teams but clubs are wary of 'smokescreen'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  29. ↑ "Fifteen A-League expansion bids confirmed on deadline day". The Guardian. 2018-05-25. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  30. ↑ Dutton, Chris (2018-05-16). "Canberra A-League bid to be modeled on German Bundesliga licence". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  31. ↑ "Sydney and Melbourne bids dominate shortlist for two spots in expanded A-League". Fox Sports Australia. 2018-06-29. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  32. ↑ "Now the A-League has Ipswich as its goal". qt.com.au. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  33. ↑ "Big hopes for bringing A-League to Ipswich". qt.com.au. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  34. ↑ "Casey-Dandenong soccer clubs ready to unite behind local push for an A-League license". Herald Sun. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  35. ↑ Lynch, Michael (2017-06-30). "Could Dandenong mirror the Wanderers and be Melbourne's third A-League club?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  36. ↑ "Dandenong Stadium Plans Announced". We are Team 11. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  37. ↑ "Dandenong Mayor: We'd get 20,000 members in a month". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  38. ↑ "A-League expansion: South Melbourne aims to gain inclusion into 2017-18 competition". Fox Sports. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  39. ↑ Pritchard, Greg (15 July 2016). "Southern Sydney likely site for 'inevitable' A-League expansion". The World Game. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  40. ↑ "Why not Tasmania?". Fox Sports (Australia). 9 October 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  41. ↑ "Tasmania wants A-League bid". FourFourTwo (Australia). 27 November 2007. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  42. ↑ "Tasmanian national football team push". ABC. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  43. ↑ "Tassie A-League hope". The Mercury. 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 4 May 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  44. ↑ "Public to choose Tassie's A-League logo". The Mercury. 26 July 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  45. ↑ "Tassie would make A-League national". Fox Sports (Australia). 29 October 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  46. ↑ Musolino, Adrian (11 January 2009). "Tasmanian franchise must be a priority for the A-League". The Roar. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  47. ↑ "Sheikh-backed Tasmania plan gatecrashing A-League". TribalFootball. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  48. ↑ http://www.tasmaniaunited.com.au/forum/topic/view/187/
  49. ↑ "West Adelaide eyes Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler as coach as it seeks A-league spot". Adelaide Advertiser. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  50. ↑ Cockerill, Michael (19 May 2008). "Wollongong bid scores Cahill as mascot". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  51. ↑ Cockerill, Michael (9 August 2006). "WIN-win situation to get Wollongong into A-League". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  52. ↑ Cockerill, Michael (14 July 2016). "New Head of the A-League Greg O'Rourke believes expansion is 'inevitable'". Fox Sports. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

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