SOCCEROOS pin-up boy Tim Cahill has pledged his allegiance to a South Coast A-League team and wants to play in Australia ''while I still have something to give''.
Cahill, whose contract at Everton expires in 2012, made his strongest statements yet on his football future.
''Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to round off my football life playing for a team which I'm convinced will get a licence to join the competition sooner rather than later,'' Cahill said.
''The fact I can be part of the club's player development in terms of giving kids in the region a chance to excel would only make it sweeter.
''I'm in this project for the long haul. I want to be part of the club in a meaningful way on the field, too. I want to come home when I still have something left to give as a player. That's also very important to me.
''Obviously I couldn't be happier where I am right now at Everton, but it would be great to be a part of helping build the game up back home too because football has given me a great life.''
Cahill is committed to launching a coaching academy in Wollongong, with the first clinics scheduled for April 2009.
Plans for the inaugural Tim Cahill Youth Football Academy, launched in conjunction with South Coast Football Club and the Police and Community Youth Clubs NSW, are well advanced.
''With the clinics and the academy, it's been something which has been on my mind for a long time,'' Cahill said.
''I want to see some of the kids who go through one day play for South Coast FC in the A-League and beyond.
''I plan to bring in some great, internationally experienced coaches as well as coaches who have been involved with the Socceroos so they get the best possible chance to succeed.''
A South Coast FC spokesman said Cahill was ''very serious about the project'' and was is in touch on a daily basis.
''Having Tim back as a player is just the icing on the cake. We're confident we tick all the boxes to be in the A-League,'' the spokesman said.
A major obstacle to South Coast FC's entry to the A-League is a bid for a western Sydney team being headed by Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill.
Neill has emerged as the face behind a bid for a second team for Sydney in 2010-11.
The club would play at Parramatta Stadium, with marquee games at Homebush, along with scope for games at Penrith and Campbelltown.
The West Ham defender declared earlier this month he wanted to back and eventually play for a second team in Australia's largest city when the A-League expands to 12 teams.
Neill's timing is good. Five-year exclusivity deals with foundation A-League clubs expire after next season, paving the way for new teams in Melbourne and Sydney.
An FFA-commissioned report early this year earmarked western Sydney as the most viable region for A-League expansion.
Western Sydney was ranked first ahead of Melbourne, Gold Coast, Townsville, Wollongong and Canberra.
Melbourne Heart is all but assured of becoming the A-League's 11th team and Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury will become the A-League's first expansion clubs next season.
That leaves western Sydney and South Coast along with Canberra and Tasmania vying for the 12th spot, which is expected to be announced in the new year.
FFA chairman Frank Lowy has personally encouraged WIN Corporation owner Bruce Gordon to bankroll the South Coast bid.
Some reports suggest the Bermuda-based billionaire has agreed to fund the franchise out of his own pocket, although the South Coast consortium denies any deal has been made.
The FFA is looking at where expansion will offer the ''best strategic fit'' and not threaten existing clubs.
Melbourne Victory have already declared they are opposed to expansion in their city
Victory chairman Geoff Lord believes Melbourne is 10 years away from supporting a second club.
Is there room for two A-league teams in Sydney and Melbourne? Should South Coast FC get the nod over a western Sydney team?
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