Wollongong 2015 or it'll fail.

Wollongong 2015 or it'll fail.

Are you providing the FFA's part of the funding? ;)

Asian Cup revenue... If that's a thing?

Northern Fury chairman Rabieh Krayem and coach Ian Ferguson to meet with FFA chief executive David Gallop and A-league boss Damien de Bohun.

NORTHERN Fury chairman Rabieh Krayem said they want to find out what they'll have to achieve to get a National Youth League and W-League team in the region first up when they meet with Football Federation Australia boss David Gallop.

Krayem and the club's coach and technical director Ian Ferguson, a former A-league coach with the Fury and Perth Glory, will meet Gallop and A-league head Damien de Bohun in Sydney on Thursday evening.

While outlining their ambitions to eventually return to the men's top flight, Krayem said their first objective was to find out how they could bring elite junior and women's football to the North.

"I think you've got to start with baby steps," Krayem said.

"For us it's working through what we need to and for us our priority is to have a youth league and a women's league team.

"We think that's an achievable process.

"Out of that, then you lay the foundations for the next stage.

"We're not ready for an A-league license today but we're ready to lay stepping stones towards how we get a youth league and women's league team.

"The key here at the moment, the numbers in our women's program are incredible.

"For us, to have a women's team playing in a national team competition is just as important as having a youth league to give these young ladies the chance to play at the highest level without leaving home."

Krayem said it was their first meeting with the FFA bosses and it was important for the strength of football in the area that they try to restore high level competition.

"Knowing that football in this region is still as strong and it's important that we give people who have the aspirations to have elite programs in this region," he said.

"If not the game will go backwards."

Meanwhile the club has confirmed a pre-season match against the Far North Queensland Heat on February 8 at Murray Park.

Simon Says: Plans being made to reinstate expansion North Queensland Fury into the A-League

WHEN, and more importantly, where, is the right place to expand the Hyundai A-League?
It's a question that has spawned a thousand articles and debates. But if the football community of Townsville has its way, it'll be a case of back to the future by 2018 at the latest, with a very familiar name re-entering the fray.

Northern Fury has kept the football dream alive in the far north, after the region's A-League club was disbanded in 2011. Fury currently compete in the National Premier Leagues (Queensland) - but on Thursday, they will meet informally with FFA in Sydney, where they hope to be given a framework, to work towards regaining their senior league place.
Football romantics will also be pleased to learn that they plan to return to their old name.

"We've done some research, which shows that they (Fury fans) would like to have North Queensland back in the name. We're looking at it for next year. Internally, the feedback we have (from FFA, which owns the name), is that they wouldn't have an issue with it, or the logo and colours, which we already use," says Chairman, Rabieh Krayem.

Aside of the name change, the next stage in Fury's plan is to gain admittance into both the National Youth League and W-League, in time for the 2015-2016 season.

"They would (both) cost $1 million - we're capable of doing that. We need to give a pathway to the young players in North Queensland. We don't want an A-League licence today, but we do need a vision as to where the game is going." says Krayem.
Football Queensland are supportive of the Fury's plans, and have already held discussions with the governing body. Thursday's meeting is to test the waters still further.

"David Gallop was a strong supporter of the Cowboys when he was with the NRL, so we're hopeful. With the Fury, it's about open dialogue. We know that we need to prove we can be financially viable, but when the next expansion phase comes in - in line with the next TV deal - we want to be discussed at the very least," says Krayem.

In the meantime, Fury believes it is building the club in the right way - from the grassroots up. Averaging around 2,400 at the Townsville Sports Reserve last year, Fury say they have sold more merchandising than all the other NPL (Queensland) clubs combined.

Next week, Fury launches a membership program for the first time, which, Krayem says, will aim for numbers of around 5,000 within two years. The club has re-appointed Ian Ferguson as its senior coach, while behind the scenes, former FFA head of corporate and public affairs, Bonita Mersiades, has also joined in their push towards re-admittance.

Expansion isn't officially on the FFA timetable - at least not publicly - but it seems reasonable to expect that, by 2018, the game will be looking at pushing into new markets once more.

Geelong, Wollongong, Canberra, Tasmania will all have their supporters when the time comes - perhaps even other areas of Queensland - but Krayem believes there can be only one choice.

"There's no doubt Queensland deserves two A-League clubs, given the size of the state. We're trying to earn the right to have a team again by developing the foundations, which we didn't do last time. What we're saying to FFA is, what's it going to take? If they tell us you need a, b and c, then we'll know what we have to deliver." says Krayem.

By Thursday evening, they may know a little more - and North Queensland Fury may be a working entity once again, three years after it disappeared out of the lexicon, seemingly never to return.

Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au//football/a-league/simon-says-plans-being-made-to-reinstate-expansion-north-queensland-fury-into-the-aleague/story-e6frf4gl-1226806412802#ixzz2r7QemqiH

What we're saying to FFA is, what's it going to take? If they tell us you need a, b and c, then we'll know what we have to deliver."

meeting with the ffa, seems to be the first sign of expansion of the a-league in the gallop era.

This is great stuff. I feel like they're really leading the way with how expansion should be done. Even if they weren't given an A-League license, they could really be an NPL/Youth League/W-League power. Maybe other big name NPL clubs could do the same and establish some youth academies, etc.

Cant see it happening before the new TV deal in 2017-2018

It would be around November 2016 the next deal since its a 4 year deal and signed in Nov 2012

Fury renaissance a step closer

27 January 2014-SBS EXCLUSIVE: Philip Micallef

A group of benefactors headed by former North Queensland Fury chairman Rabieh Krayem has re-formed the club in the hope that it is allowed back in the A-League in 2018.

The new entity is expected to compete in the National Youth League and Women's League under the name of Northern Fury in 2015-2016.

It is hoped the club will be able to build a compelling case for inclusion when Football Federation looks to expand the competition in four years' time.

The Fury club was disbanded by Football Federation Australia (FFA) in 2011 due to financial instability two seasons after its acceptance in the A-League.

"We are very confident of being in a position to take the A-League licence when FFA decides to expand the competition after taking the basic steps of getting a youth and women's team in the competition," Krayem said.

"We have set time to get ourselves into the A-League and we have spoken to the FFA who have been very receptive to our concept.

"What we've learned from the past is that we've got to build from grassroots.

"At the moment we are competing in the National Premier League in Queensland."

The old Fury club came into the competition in 2009 in a blaze of publicity.

It signed former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler and drew healthy crowds but it all went wrong in its second season as crowds dipped and the team finished bottom of the league.

Krayem said he has no doubts that the second bite at the cherry would be successful because, contrary to the club's first acceptance, it has enough time on its hands to get things right.

"This time we've got all the clubs and associations on board," Krayem explained.

"We've got 12-year olds playing in the NPL and have provided them with a pathway to the senior level.

"Three years ago, on the other hand, we were given a licence and asked to get the local associations on board.

"Basically three years ago we were handed a licence whereas this time we want to earn it and deserve it.

"That's what I told (CEO) David Gallop in the talks with the FFA which have been very positive."

Krayem said that drawing big enough crowds to make the club sustainable in the A-League would not be as problematic as in the past.

"I'll give you an example. We had average crowds of 2400 per game in our matches in the NPL last season," he said.

"Now when you have a club with many members and 12-year-old teams right through to senior sides you get community backing and you are not just relying on corporate support.

"Football is still the number one junior sport in the region and four years should give us enough time to build support.

"If Fury are back in the league the rise in supporter numbers and media support would be significant."

Wollongong.

Thinking of leaving SFC?
:-k

1700! Don't you dare contemplate being a turncoat A16Man! You can have them as a 2nd side but SFC TID!

:lol: I'm not a turncoat, but I've always said when Wollongong gets a team I'll support them. The reason I started supporting Sydney FC around season 3 was because there was no Wollongong team. If you want to get technical I'm originally a Wollongong Wolves fan ;)

If it happens, I'll still support Sydney FC (as a close 2nd), but not to the same extent you can by actually living where the team plays.

Another relative of HeyItsRobbie ;)

:lol: I'm not a turncoat, but I've always said when Wollongong gets a team I'll support them. The reason I started supporting Sydney FC around season 3 was because there was no Wollongong team. If you want to get technical I'm originally a Wollongong Wolves fan ;)

If it happens, I'll still support Sydney FC (as a close 2nd), but not to the same extent you can by actually living where the team plays.