Lol pronounced coburn

Are you sure? ;)

Ruin the fantasy why don't you

South Coast could yet have the opportunity to play in the A-League under a Football Federation Australia blueprint to be announced by chief executive David Gallop Wednesday morning.

Under the new structure, the elite national competition will use a promotion and relegation system involving the champion club of Australia’s state league clubs.

The Mercury has learned the NSW Premier League titleholder would enter an eight-team cup competition to be established next year.

Then within five years, the cup winner would advance to a promotion-relegation playoff against the bottom-placed A-League team.

The FFA is also poised to develop a number of pathway initiatives and financial incentives to help bridge the gap between the top two tiers in Australia, as part of a long-term plan to be consistently competitive in the Asian confederation.

Former A-League player and Wolves captain Jacob Timpano said with careful management, South Coast could return to being a national powerhouse once again.

‘‘It is a big gap [between A-League and NSW Premier League] in all aspects professionally,’’ he said.

‘‘But it would be great for it to be bridged and there be a lot more common ground.

‘‘There’s a history of success for Wollongong players, in national teams, playing in overseas leagues and as a club at the elite level in Australia.

‘‘If there were the structures in place, there’s no doubt we could build a squad of predominantly homegrown talent.

‘‘So any plans like this would be a massive thing for South Coast football.’’

The Mercury understands the original FFA plan involved branding the cup competition as the ‘‘Australian Premier League’’, however, the move hit a road block because the naming rights are held by lawn bowls.

The leagues of each state and territory will be set a timeframe for involvement in the cup competition, with NSW set to be among the first included next year.

The FFA has been under pressure from the Asian Football Confederation for some time about developing a promotion and relegation system.

There will be a strict set of criteria in place before a team is promoted to the A-League, however, South Coast’s chances are enhanced by the availability of WIN Stadium as a venue.

State league clubs would receive significant financial windfalls if one of their players is recruited to an A-League club.

It will be enforced that each state league club has full-time technical directors and A-licence coaches, as well as highly qualified coaches for their junior programs.

In 2000 and 2001, the then Wollongong Wolves won the National Soccer League titles and they also won the 2008 NSW Premier League crown, before falling on difficult financial times.

The rebuilding process has led South Coast to an elimination final last year, after being second on the NSWPL standings for much of the season.

Football South Coast general manager Bill Kostandas said a focus would need to remain on enhancing the pathways for talented juniors.

Kostandas heads the unified South Coast governing body, which was a key component in any future moves to enter the A-League or W-League competitions.

‘‘If this comes to fruition it would have many benefits,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ll wait and see what is announced [today], but this could help produce the region’s next Socceroo and prospects of them staying in the region for longer.


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‘‘Structually, I don’t believe there would need to be a lot of change in what Football South Coast already has in place.

‘‘There are technical directors and skilled coaches already involved at all levels, both within Football South Coast and the Wolves.

‘‘A lot of people have worked hard to develop the pathways towards the opportunities the Wolves provide in the NSW Premier League, so any plans to enhance that would be welcomed.’’

I'd want a team in the league called Cockburn just for the commentary

"They're on the counter now, they could catch Cockburn napping"

Edited by AJohn: 12/2/2013 02:31:13 PM

Definitely no Dunedin.

The next four teams should be Canberra, Wollongong, NQ and Auckland.

Since populations is going to be a factor in where the next team or teams go because it is important to take tv deals and attendances into consideration. I thought it would be good to see each areas current population and projected future populations.

Wollongong (Wollongong/Shellharbour/Kiama
In 1998, With a population of 264,128, the Wollongong Wolves averaged 5,567 in their NSL when they came 6th place.
Currently, the population is around 292,136
In 2017, The next likely time for expansion, the population is estimated to be about 303,630
In 2022, 318,574
in 2030, 343,891

Canberra (Canberra/Queanbeyan)
In 1996, with a population of around 297,300, the Canberra Cosmos averaged 3,176 when they came last in the NSL.
Currently, The population is around 422,249
In 2017, 455,113
In 2022, 499,813
In 2030, 580,644

Geelong
Currently, the population is around 227,699
In 2017, 241,957
In 2022, 261,042
In 2030, 294,758

Aukland
In 2001, with a population of 1,022,616, the Football Kingz averaged 6,620 when they came 8th in the NSL.
Currently the population is around 1,530,315
In 2017, 1,624,221
In 2022, 1,749,747
In 2030, 1,971,077

Tasmania
Currently the population is around 513,024
In 2017, 517,141
In 2022, 522,333
In 2030, 530,748

Townsville
In 2010, with a population of 181,743, North Queensland Fury averaged 6,723 when they came 7th in the A-League.
Currently the population is around 186,310
In 2017, 203,254
In 2022, 226,617
In 2030, 269,712

Also the reason why i chose those years for each cities former teams is because those years were their best attendance wise that i could find.


Also Aussie4ever4, could you put this in your first post for future reference by any chance?

Geelong?

We've all be rehashing the same of arguments for various expansion teams ever since the A-league started. So I am going to ask something new:

How does the new element of WSW fans traveling affect the mix?

Given that a large portion of WSW fans appear willing to travel when it is within reach, does the chance of Canberra and Wollongong entering the A-league increase due to the fact that at least twice a season (if the draw worked out) they could have a sell-out crowd with a fantastic atmosphere to build on and grow the game?

what i think/would like to see happen:
2016/17 12 teams: 33 rounds play every team 3x
2018/19 14 teams: 30 rounds, play every team 2x +play 4 opposition a 3rd time (including all the derbies a 3rd time round just like they do in the afl)
2022/23 16 teams: 30 rounds play every team 2x and there we have a beautiful 16 team competition with an 8 team finals system featuring (all present + canberra, wollongong, tasmania, geelong, auckland, northern fury) just in the time to watch the qatari summer sweatathon

Edited by williamn: 12/2/2013 02:58:33 PM

(that said, the way WSW have gone this season proves that a new team can be plenty competitive).

18. gold coast dragons/redbull/(new fancy name)

Eastern conference:
Melbourne Victory
Adelaide United
Perth Glory
Melbourne Heart
Canberra
Tasmania
Woolongong
South Melbourne
Geelong.

Western conference;
Sydney FC
Central Coast
Newcastle Jets
Brisbane Roar
Wellington Phoenix
Western Sydney Wanderers
North Queensland
Auckland
Gold Coast.

Everyone plays each other twice, with a third game against each team in your conference, home/away alternating year by year. Saves an extra trip to NZ for Perth and vice-versa, as well as keeping the NZ teams close by for extra matches, evening up the flying distance.

Extra matches likely against local rivals, meaning better matches, better attendances and better ratings. More away trips available to fans, instead of extra games to exotic locations.

Top 3 from each conference play a finals series. Negates the champions or premiers aspect, as now there will only be one national champion, and 2 conference champions.