A-League expansion and the Sharks

[HaroldBishop]

Yeah the other end of that is when this tenant falls by the way side (like u are all expecting it to) our annual budget is ****ed, stadium sponsor walks or decreases its input.

Both ways could have negative outcomes.

Yes but if that happens we'd in the same situation we're in now. Would be far worse if we had a financial interest (ownership) in the franchise.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Yes but if that happens we'd in the same situation we're in now. Would be far worse if we had a financial interest (ownership) in the franchise.

Not exactly.

Im all for anything, and im sure before anything was put in stone all appropriate risks will be considered by those who know more about this than any of us

 

[Western Sharkie]

Yeah the other end of that is when this tenant falls by the way side (like u are all expecting it to) our annual budget is ****ed, stadium sponsor walks or decreases its input.

Both ways could have negative outcomes.

This would be income above and beyond what we are already earning.
Plus they couldn't take away the upgrades to the stadium IF the soccer team failed down the track.

Why would the Stadium sponsor walk (unless they were already considering it). It would be a better deal for Remondis as they get year round exposure. In fact, we could sell the naming rights for more for the same reasons.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

This would be income above and beyond what we are already earning.
Plus they couldn't take away the upgrades to the stadium IF the soccer team failed down the track.

Why would the Stadium sponsor walk (unless they were already considering it). It would be a better deal for Remondis as they get year round exposure. In fact, we could sell the naming rights for more for the same reasons.

Why? Cos a stadium sponsor would be paying for year round exposure, not 6 months of being dormant. Im talking about how they would budget annually. Its not just about banking more money. Extra staff bla bla bla. Then it dies you are laying people off, less ground sponsors less revenue. All im saying is it has significant risks either way.

 

[CrankyShark]

Why? Cos a stadium sponsor would be paying for year round exposure, not 6 months of being dormant. Im talking about how they would budget annually. Its not just about banking more money. Extra staff bla bla bla. Then it dies you are laying people off, less ground sponsors less revenue. All im saying is it has significant risks either way.

It is a very risky business. There needs to be some kind of legal separation of the teams so that if the soccer team went belly up then the league team isn't responsible for their debts. I have no idea if this is actually possible so I may be talking out of my behind.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

It is a very risky business. There needs to be some kind of legal separation of the teams so that if the soccer team went belly up then the league team isn't responsible for their debts. I have no idea if this is actually possible so I may be talking out of my behind.

Well given it would all be owned by the leagues club/members id say not.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Not exactly.

Im all for anything, and im sure before anything was put in stone all appropriate risks will be considered by those who know more about this than any of us

That's true but like I said, many a person who knows more about this than us have failed in the past. Investing in sporting teams is generally a poor investment. I don't see why this one would be any different.

 

[slide rule]

27 Oct 2015 - 7:27pm

Trio of associations ready to form A-League super club

By Greg Prichard

27 Oct 2015 - 7:27 PM UPDATED 27 Oct 2015 - 7:27 PM

Sutherland Shire Football Association bosses are convinced about the potential for the group to join forces with two other major associations and form a massive A-League club that could be ready in time to play in next season's competition, if required.

SSFA president Wayne Schweickle and general manager Jeff Stewart told The World Game that several top-level meetings had been held this year about the concept of its association joining with the St George Football Association and Football South Coast to form an A-League club.

The meetings have been driven by Football Federation Australia (FFA) and also included representatives of Sutherland Shire Council and National Rugby League club, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

Remondis Stadium, where the Sharks play in the winter, is seen as the preferred main venue for A-League games for the proposed new club in summer.
Speculation about the future make-up of the A-League has gone into overdrive since FFA announced on Monday it had denied a request from Wellington Phoenix for a 10-year licence extension to play in the competition.

FFA Chief Executive David Gallop said the decision was taken in the "best interests of Australian football" and that Phoenix's application "doesn't meet the requirements we see as fundamental to the future growth of the Hyundai A-League".

While Phoenix still has the option to apply for a four-year licence extension, to begin from the end of this season, it remains to be seen whether the club's ownership will do that or walk away from the competition considering FFA's negative evaluation of its contribution.

There has recently been speculation that a third Sydney club would be the preferred next addition to the A-League, but with FFA not keen on expansion at this stage the only way that could happen in the near future is if one of the 10 existing clubs vacated its position in the competition.

Schweickle and Stewart said while they weren't planning for SSFA to make a quick entry into the A-League, if a spot did open up, they could fast-forward those plans with FFA's assistance.

"The Wanderers did it quickly and the FFA would have learnt something from that exercise," Stewart said.

"So I would say the FFA should be able to do that in this instance, too, if they had to.

"If they don't have to, I would hope they could take a little bit more time and make sure all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed, but they've done it before so I don't see why they couldn't do it again.

"For the good of football and for the good of the region covered by the three associations, if that was what we needed to do, then with FFA's guidance we would do what it takes to enhance football in this part of the world."

Schweickle said he was sure there was room for a third A-League club in Sydney and that joining up the strengths of three big associations from the southern area of Sydney, all the way down to Wollongong and south coast area, would be the way to go.

"We are the largest association in the country and when you look at St George they aren't far behind us, and with Football South Coast, there are big numbers among all three associations," Schweickle said.

"When you look at Western Sydney, they have established themselves out west and have a really good fan base and we've always been strong supporters of Sydney FC, but there's enough space in Sydney to take on a third team.

"If the NRL can accommodate nine clubs in Sydney then I'm sure we can accommodate another A-League team. Look how far the A-League has come. The city is big enough and we've got the fan base."

Stewart said his understanding was that FFA supported the idea of all three associations being involved in such a club if it became a reality.

"Every conversation I've had with the FFA, yes they've been positive about all three associations being involved," he said.

"The speculation has been about a Sutherland Shire club, but those meetings that we've had, St George and South Coast have been involved in every one of them.

"It makes it a much better catchment area, Sutherland being the biggest sporting organisation in this country, and the St George area and Football South Coast also being football lovers. How could you go wrong by bringing all three together - it's a huge area."

When The World Game suggested it sounded like the potential for a super club, Stewart said "yeah, that's exactly what excites us."

Schweickle and Stewart said discussions between the associations, the council and the FFA were still effectively in their early stages, but things could move quickly if there was a need to.

"This has been on the cards since the start of the year," Schweickle said.

"It's been spoken about since then and even towards the end of last year, there was a murmuring about a third club.

"Look, there's a real positive mood from everyone who has been present at the meetings. The Sutherland Shire Council Mayor, Carmelo Pesce, he's a great supporter of it.

"Us as a grass-roots club, we're a big supporter. It's just a matter of getting all the ducks in a row, so to speak.

"No-one has said 'we don't want to touch this', it's all been 'yep, no worries, let's see what we can do'. And with an attitude like that, you're halfway there.

"We've got a good working relationship with the other two associations. We work together for the benefit of the sport."

Stewart said the current home ground of Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks would be the preferred home ground for the new A-League club.
"In terms of somewhere to play, Remondis Stadium is sitting there waiting to be leased," he said.

"In terms of training facilities, we could very quickly put something together amongst the three associations that could work.

"The councils, I'll particularly speak for Sutherland Shire Council, are very excited and trying to think how they can help facilitate this. It's all still in the early stages of discussion, but everyone is on the same page."

Stewart was adamant SSFA's objective from the start has been to possibly get involved in an expanded A-League competition and that any change to that landscape was out of its control.

"Is it about pushing a New Zealand team out of the competition? Absolutely not," Stewart said.

"No question in my mind, this is not a stitch-up to kick Wellington out, it's a case of if Wellington pulls out, is this an alternative?

"And if Wellington stays in, is it another alternative to add another one or maybe two teams to the competition? That's for FFA to decide, not us."

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/10/27/trio-associations-ready-form-league-super-club

Perhaps our involvement could be something in the form of sharing (some) admin staff and office space etc.

As an example there'd have to be savings involved in combining (say) the membership teams of both into one office etc. I'd imagine a lot of the work would be seasonal so in the low season for League they could be doing Soccer work and vice versa.

None of these soccer associations would be set up to operate a national sporting team in the way we are (or at least will be). I know we have struggled in this area in the past but we seem to be getting on top of it now.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Perhaps our involvement could be something in the form of sharing (some) admin staff and office space etc.

As an example there'd have to be savings involved in combining (say) the membership teams of both into one office etc. I'd imagine a lot of the work would be seasonal so in the low season for League they could be doing Soccer work and vice versa.

None of these soccer associations would be set up to operate a national sporting team in the way we are (or at least will be). I know we have struggled in this area in the past but we seem to be getting on top of it now.

Yeah it's no secret I have apprehensions about this. Were only just starting to get back on our feet, I don't want to dilute our resources tbh.

 

[ABshark]

There's one staff member that any new A-League team would want: Lyall. He's probably already been offered the job.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I really hope not AB.

 

[slide rule]

Yeah it's no secret I have apprehensions about this. Were only just starting to get back on our feet, I don't want to dilute our resources tbh.

Dilute them or get more out of them?

If it takes 3 membership staff to maintain 10,000 members or 5 for a combined 20,000 then there may be savings to be made.

I have no idea of actual numbers of staff required per head of membership, but economies of scale are REAL!!!

This is just an example. The same can probably be applied to phone systems, office space, computers etc etc etc.

It doesn't even mean that we need to pay for the soccer side of things. It could just be that we both benefit from reduced costs of combining certain operations.

 

[Addy]

Inaugural Jersey

 

[snowman]

dear god no

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

Foot locker uniforms

 

[HaroldBishop]

Great jersey if you only want Sharks' fans to support it.

 

[CrankyShark]

Inaugural Jersey

View attachment 22953

Thats actually not a bad jersey.

 

[fitz]

Reminds me of the bastard child of an NFL umpire and Atalanta

 

[19ninety9]

Athletic Southern or FC Southern

I'd follow either of those

 

[Mr Ryan]

There seems to be a fair bit talk in here about how this could benefit the Sharks.

I pose 2 questions that I would like answered by the SF faithfull:

- are the ultimate goals of the FFA and Dave Gallop to co-exist with the NRL?

- how would everyone feel when every time there's a soccer game at Shark Park that they cover up the names of Peter Burns, Monty Porter and Andrew Ettingshausen on the grandstands?