Wollongong Wolves still planning on entering A-League despite South Sydney bid being confirmed

WOLLONGONG Wolves are intent on pushing ahead with an A-League expansion bid despite the region’s governing body confirming it was supporting a Sydney-based rival bid.

Football South Coast, which controls senior club and junior football in the Wollongong region, has been named along with St George and Sutherland associations as backing the Les Murray and Craig Foster-led “Southern Expansion” bid.

Reports of division in the region’s football threaten both bids, but Wolves CEO Chris Papakosmas says FSC has told him they will support both bids.

OFFICIAL: South Sydney bid made for A-League inclusion

It is understood FSC see the South Sydney bid as a preferred option of Football Federation Australia and want to align with the bid to bring a number of games to Wollongong’s WIN Stadium. In contrast the Wolves argue the area needs a standalone team rather than an amalgamated club.

“[The South Sydney] bid is talking about an area that covers Sutherland Shire, St George and the Illawarra – there’s not really a connection, a history or an understanding,” Wolves CEO Chris Papakosmas told foxsports.com.au. “Keep in mind a lot of the people south of Helensburgh don’t consider themselves Sydneysiders.

“Four games out of WIN Stadium is nothing compared to playing all of your home games there. The whole point of our bid is that Wolves is an existing entity, we have a strong memorandum of understanding with the Illawarra Stingrays, we have pathways for boys, girls, men and women in the region and we have an existing infrastructure.

“All we’re going to do is add an A-League and a W-League team above the pyramid that exists already and give the people something they can aspire to.

“Football South Coast had already gone on record saying they would back a bid from the Wolves and they would back a hybrid amalgamation from southern Sydney. It comes back to the fact we have a strong presence here on the South Coast and playing out of WIN Stadium.

“We can engage the Illawarra, we can engage the south coast and Shoalhaven and provide a pathway for the kids all the way from Helensburgh to the Victorian boarder. Nothing has changed in our intentions.”

The news of FSC backing a South Sydney bid comes a month after local billionaire Bruce Gordon stated he would throw his support behind a standalone Wollongong team.

Owner of WIN Television, Gordon confirmed he had been in touch with former FFA chairman Frank Lowy, who was succeeded by son Steven to the helm.

“We have talked to Frank Lowy and we are still talking to him,” he said. “We are very happy to support something … an A-League team. That will happen sooner or later. Probably sooner more than later.”

Papakosmas says there are a host of local business people lining up to support a Wolves A-League bid.

“Our only concern is putting together our bid and making sure we do the best for our region and our kids,” he said.

“We’ve already got quite a few successful business people in the region jumping on board and there are a few more announcements coming up that will make a statement.

“The expansion criteria has been delayed and we believe when the time is right we will be putting in a submission, it will be very, very attractive – you’re talking about a big geographical area, you’re talking about a very big growth population area and you’re talking about probably one of the best junior football nurseries in the country.

“We will have a standalone presence.”