Ground troubles put Wolves, Olympic futures in doubt

DateAugust 27, 2012 - 1:15PM
Michael Cockerill

Fallen giants South Coast Wolves and Sydney Olympic - who between them won four national championships - may be the victims in cross-code ground wars but that doesn't mean they'll be cut any slack as their place in the game's second-tier comes under threat.

Both clubs have been relegated to the semi-professional NSW Premier League since the collapse of the NSL eight years ago, and have since been embroiled in long-running stadium conflicts aggravated, at least in part, by the actions of NRL heavyweights St George-Illawarra and Canterbury Bulldogs.

As outlined in a recent series of Herald articles, Sydney Olympic are fighting for the legitimacy of a 21-year lease at Belmore Sportsground as the Bulldogs look to re-gain control of the venue, while the Wolves have effectively been left homeless for the last decade after being squeezed out of Brandon Park in a deal which has seen the Dragons benefit from a major upgrade of WIN Stadium.

In the last fortnight, the respective local authorities (Wollongong City Council and Canterbury Council) have finally shown a willingness to seek long-term solutions for both NSWPL clubs, but now there are real concerns those outcomes may have come too late to even preserve their place in football's second-tier.

Football NSW are putting the finishing touches to a major overhaul of the NSWPL for 2013, and chief executive Eddie Moore refuses to say whether South Coast and Sydney Olympic will be given any special dispensation under a 100-point criteria system which places a heavy emphasis on facilities.

Olympic, the defending champions, and the Wolves (champions in 2008), are the only two clubs in the 12-team NSWPL without venue security - essentially through no fault of their own. Asked if FNSW was therefore prepared to cut some slack during the review process, Moore replied: "Until the board has their applications, and has then done a full review, it's difficult to say what will happen, or where they fit in. A lot depends on what they put forward, at the end of the day we want all clubs to have a home, all clubs to have the best facilities possible.

"Look at Blacktown Spartans, what they've got now was 15 years in the making. So it's about building partnerships with government and local councils, and having a long-term plan. Right now, as far as these two clubs are concerned, I can't tell you what the board's decision will be."

With up to six third-tier clubs - including Macarthur Rams, Northern Tigers, Bankstown Berries, Mounties Wanderers, Central Coast Lightning and Bankstown City - believed to be interested in joining a new-look NSWPL, competition for places in the 2013 competition is heating up.

All clubs must complete their applications by September 10, with the successful candidates announced on October 8.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/ground-troubles-put-wolves-olympic-futures-in-doubt-20120827-24vlh.html#ixzz24micBq74