Former Socceroo and football commentator Craig Foster says Sydney FC’s success this year has not damaged the chances of bringing a new A-League side to southern Sydney.
Sydney FC won their first A-League title in seven years last month.
Foster is part of a group proposing a new A-League and W-League club for southern Sydney, under the working title of Southern Expansion. Southern Expansion was launched in March with financial backing from Chinese property company JiaYuan Group.
Foster said Sydney FC’s recent success did not hurt their chances of bringing a new club to the region, which would cover St George, the Sutherland Shire and Illawarra.
“I think it is fantastic [Sydney FC’s success],” he said.
“What we need is as strong a competition as possible and we need to stop thinking as a sport about individual clubs – one club versus another.
“We have huge challenges from other sports and there is not enough in our game of ‘league think’ and ‘game think’.
“That means we are with Sydney FC and we are with Wanderers and with every other team. And together everyone is stronger.
“Each time we have had expansion the crowds have actually escalated quite considerably as has the memberships across all of the league.”
The FFA announced in March it could not afford to add new teams to the A-League until a new ownership and operating model had been developed in consultation with clubs, with expansion unlikely until the 2018-19 season at the earliest.
The FFA also knocked back an application from Southern Expansion to include a side in the W-League for the 2017/18 season.
That has not stopped Southern Expansion from taking further steps to make their franchise a reality. They announced today they had brought on board former Matildas Dianne Cleary (nee Alagich) and Julie Murray – who both live in the shire – to help with the W-League side of the franchise.
Murray said she was excited about the prospect of a new W-League team in the future, giving players in the shire a good pathway.
“This is a dream of mine, and Craig’s and Di’s for years and years and years.
“Once people start to see that things are being put in place, I think there will be tremendous support. There is no doubt about that.”
