South Coast football dealt blow
BY JOEL RITCHIE
19 Mar, 2010 04:00 AM
The South Coast is unlikely to have W-League or youth teams next season, according to the official tasked with bringing national football to Wollongong.
Bill Drossos, the director in charge of Football South Coast's A-League bid, does not expect the FFA to change the format of either competition for 2010-11.
The revelation dashes hopes the Illawarra would be invited to field clubs after being overlooked for A-League expansion in September last year.
Then, FFA CEO Ben Buckley acknowledged there was scope for youth and women's football in the region.
"We will remain in close discussion with them regarding potential future plans for the South Coast including women's and youth football," Buckley said.
Drossos expects the governing body to announce the make-up of the W-League and NYL next month, but doubts his group would be among the entrants.
"I have been told the FFA will make an announcement in April about what the leagues will look like," Drossos said.
"My feeling is that it is unlikely we will have a team next season. If it does happen we'll know pretty quickly in April.
"The discussion at the moment is whether the competition is going to be expanded and if not, who will make up the teams. It's difficult to say with any certainty what's going to happen."
A-League franchises Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth have sides in both secondary leagues, which are also bolstered by the presence of Canberra-based outfits.
Gold Coast has a youth team, but fellow expansion club North Queensland and New Zealand-based Wellington Phoenix do not have women's or under 21 clubs.
Melbourne Heart and Sydney Rovers will enter the A-League in 2010 and 2011 respectively, but are only expected to run men's teams.
"They have Melbourne Heart and Sydney Rovers coming in, there is a need to talk to them about where they are at," Drossos said. "They were keen to look at us. We can be ready for the NYL if required."
Drossos is adamant South Coast would be able to support all tiers of national football.
"We have always contended that we are strong enough for A-League, W-League and NYL," he said. "Our communication to them is that we can be ready if required for next season."
Drossos encouraged the football public to rally behind the region's state league clubs, the South Coast Wolves and Illawarra Stingrays.
"It is very important that the region continues to support our South Coast Wolves and the Illawarra Stingrays in all ways possible given their position at the pinnacle of football on the South Coast," he said.
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