HaroldBishop
Megalodon
No way .......
Official Cronulla Sharks Board + Management
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CrazyMatt
Jaws
Here’s something potentially interesting.
The list below is the expression of interests submitted by State Football (Soccer) clubs for the new National Second Division
Sutherland Sharks are there, notice anything?
The Cronulla Sharks name is attached to Sutherland’s bid.
Now remember back when the A-League did their last expansion. There was a lot of speculation that the Sharks were affiliated with the unsuccessful Southern Expansion bid which was beaten by the Macarthur bid.
Now it looks like we’ll be backing this Sutherland bid into the Second Division, which begs the questions. Are we financially involved? Or is it purely symbolic? Will Cronulla be running the club? Or have any kind of presence on the board? Considering we own the stadium they might be using, maybe we’ll have a financial stake in the clubs ownership.
The list below is the expression of interests submitted by State Football (Soccer) clubs for the new National Second Division
Sutherland Sharks are there, notice anything?
The Cronulla Sharks name is attached to Sutherland’s bid.
Now remember back when the A-League did their last expansion. There was a lot of speculation that the Sharks were affiliated with the unsuccessful Southern Expansion bid which was beaten by the Macarthur bid.
Now it looks like we’ll be backing this Sutherland bid into the Second Division, which begs the questions. Are we financially involved? Or is it purely symbolic? Will Cronulla be running the club? Or have any kind of presence on the board? Considering we own the stadium they might be using, maybe we’ll have a financial stake in the clubs ownership.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Without knowing a lot I hope we don't have a financial stake, would prefer we invest in things that will make money.
Western Sharkie
Jaws
I see Val has also sponsored an application
Matty C of the Shire
Great White
There was talk many moons ago, when LG was at the club, that the next A league team, we could of had some input and backing of a club, due to the soccer nursery that is the shire.
which in essence would make Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Football ClUb be similar to the European clubs. (someone who is more knowledgeable on EPL and European soccer clubs, can jump in on their constructs)
i heard of numerous scenarios ranging from ownership, part ownership to leasing out stadium.
but this chatter was over serveral yrs ago
Western Sharkie
Jaws
Matty C of the Shire
Great White
Go Double
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
So this comp will run in winter. Dunno as much about soccer as @Capital_Shark but would it be possible to play games there same time of the year as NRL?
See what happens but seems like a good way to burn money to me.
CrazyMatt
Jaws
If they eventually get promoted to the A-League, they’d play in the summer. Maybe they’ll start off staying at Seymour Shaw Park then move to Shark Park when/if they eventually get promoted.
Wont be a for a while though as promotion/relegation wont be a thing for a few years.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Pretty ambitious shooting for relegation/promotion. I know it works overseas but our market is pretty small.
CrazyMatt
Jaws
Football Australia are under pressure from the AFC to implement this as its eventually becoming one of the guidelines for leagues in the conference.
But it also seems to be the consensus of most major stakeholders in the game, including fans, players and even clubs that this is the essential step that needs to be taken for football in this country.
One of the core principles of football around the world is a complete pyramid for any club in the country to rise to become the best in the country, no matter the size it is now. For that to happen, the football pyramid in this country needs to be connected from top to bottom. This second division is the very first step to that.
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Interesting and definitely not doubting you, you know much more than me about soccer. I get it works in other places, will be very interested to see how it works here in such a small market with other codes around, albeit in winter.
The game isn't exactly raking in a heap of money, will be hard for relegated clubs to survive I'm guessing.
CrazyMatt
Jaws
This has legs folks.
www.smh.com.au
The Cronulla Sharks have gone back to the future by submitting a bid for a place in a new national soccer competition, which could one day facilitate promotion and relegation with the A-League.
Twenty years after a rebadged Sydney Olympic called Shark Park their home for two seasons in the old National Soccer League, the NRL club has joined forces with NPL NSW outfit Sutherland Sharks in lodging an expression of interest for Football Australia’s proposed national second division.
The joint venture is one of 32 bids from eight states and territories for the long-promised second-tier league, which is set to kick off in March 2024 and, pending the financial strength and aptitude of final bids, will comprise between 10 and 16 teams and play a home-and-away campaign through the winter months.
When the second division reaches “maturity”, Football Australia has said it would then implement a system of promotion and relegation with the A-League.
The Cronulla-Sutherland bid was the biggest shock in the list released by FA on Monday, which includes former NSL clubs Olympic, Marconi, APIA Leichhardt, Sydney United 58, Wollongong Wolves, Melbourne Knights, South Melbourne and Preston Lions.
The Sharks have clearly been keeping a close eye on domestic soccer in recent years - they were part of the failed Southern Expansion bid to join the A-League that was ultimately overlooked for Macarthur FC. Had that team been approved, it would have played some home games at PointsBet Stadium, which the NRL club owns and operates.
The Sutherland Shire Football Association is the biggest sporting association in the southern hemisphere, boasting more than 19,000 registered players this year, and sits in a part of Sydney that former FFA boss David Gallop had long believed was ripe for another soccer club.
Sutherland Sharks president Rob Sauer said: “It’s exciting. We’ve entered the expression of interest and that’s all we can say at this stage.”
An official from the Cronulla Sharks also confirmed the club’s interest, although sources say the NRL club is eager for more information from Football Australia on what the second division will look like, and the financial demands of participating in it, before making a full commitment.
The Sharks are likely to be motivated by a desire for more activity at PointsBet Stadium, although plans for the second division to run through the winter - instead of across the summer, in parallel with the A-League - could present some challenges.
Football Australia will now compile a shortlist of clubs and entities who lodged expressions of interest and ask them for detailed proposals to join the second division, with the successful bids to be announced after the Women’s World Cup in August.
“We underwent a lengthy consultation process last year, so we knew there would be great interest, and we are thrilled with the level of interest shown in the EOI phase and the calibre of clubs which have expressed their interest,” said chief executive James Johnson.
“Australian football has undergone a journey of transformation over the last two years, and the establishment of a national second tier which reconnects and realigns Australian football competitions is an important element of Football Australia’s 15-year vision for the game.”
‘The door is definitely open’: FA boss welcomes NRL club’s shock soccer bid
The Cronulla Sharks have joined a bid for a place in soccer’s national second division – a move that even surprised FA chief James Johnson.
The Cronulla Sharks have gone back to the future by submitting a bid for a place in a new national soccer competition, which could one day facilitate promotion and relegation with the A-League.
Twenty years after a rebadged Sydney Olympic called Shark Park their home for two seasons in the old National Soccer League, the NRL club has joined forces with NPL NSW outfit Sutherland Sharks in lodging an expression of interest for Football Australia’s proposed national second division.
The joint venture is one of 32 bids from eight states and territories for the long-promised second-tier league, which is set to kick off in March 2024 and, pending the financial strength and aptitude of final bids, will comprise between 10 and 16 teams and play a home-and-away campaign through the winter months.
When the second division reaches “maturity”, Football Australia has said it would then implement a system of promotion and relegation with the A-League.
The Cronulla-Sutherland bid was the biggest shock in the list released by FA on Monday, which includes former NSL clubs Olympic, Marconi, APIA Leichhardt, Sydney United 58, Wollongong Wolves, Melbourne Knights, South Melbourne and Preston Lions.
The Sharks have clearly been keeping a close eye on domestic soccer in recent years - they were part of the failed Southern Expansion bid to join the A-League that was ultimately overlooked for Macarthur FC. Had that team been approved, it would have played some home games at PointsBet Stadium, which the NRL club owns and operates.
The Sutherland Shire Football Association is the biggest sporting association in the southern hemisphere, boasting more than 19,000 registered players this year, and sits in a part of Sydney that former FFA boss David Gallop had long believed was ripe for another soccer club.
Sutherland Sharks president Rob Sauer said: “It’s exciting. We’ve entered the expression of interest and that’s all we can say at this stage.”
An official from the Cronulla Sharks also confirmed the club’s interest, although sources say the NRL club is eager for more information from Football Australia on what the second division will look like, and the financial demands of participating in it, before making a full commitment.
The Sharks are likely to be motivated by a desire for more activity at PointsBet Stadium, although plans for the second division to run through the winter - instead of across the summer, in parallel with the A-League - could present some challenges.
Football Australia will now compile a shortlist of clubs and entities who lodged expressions of interest and ask them for detailed proposals to join the second division, with the successful bids to be announced after the Women’s World Cup in August.
“We underwent a lengthy consultation process last year, so we knew there would be great interest, and we are thrilled with the level of interest shown in the EOI phase and the calibre of clubs which have expressed their interest,” said chief executive James Johnson.
“Australian football has undergone a journey of transformation over the last two years, and the establishment of a national second tier which reconnects and realigns Australian football competitions is an important element of Football Australia’s 15-year vision for the game.”
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
This part is key....
An official from the Cronulla Sharks also confirmed the club’s interest, although sources say the NRL club is eager for more information from Football Australia on what the second division will look like, and the financial demands of participating in it, before making a full commitment.
An official from the Cronulla Sharks also confirmed the club’s interest, although sources say the NRL club is eager for more information from Football Australia on what the second division will look like, and the financial demands of participating in it, before making a full commitment.
CrazyMatt
Jaws
Thats the same of every bid at the moment. Hence the term “expression of interest”.
Wiz
Jaws
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The board have been doing well, I’m sure they’ve done their research
andrew's_sharks
Great White
It's an interesting idea. I know that "Australia is a small market". But what about when Australia has a population of say 50 million people in 2060? Possibly won't seem so small then.
MrDravid
Bull Shark
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I'd be surprised if there were more than a couple of A League clubs that actually make a profit?
No chance a second division club runs at a profit.
SF
Mako Shark
Worth having a look at it. Long-term it could be a useful bargaining chip with the NRL.