Yesterday Marconi hosted a training session and media opportunity for NRL players eligible to play for Italy in Euro Zone 2013 World Cup qualifiers.

This included Roosters NRL stars Anthony Minichello and Aiden Guerra and Newcastle’s Cameron Ciraldo.

Additionally, Marconi Mustangs rugby league operation have inked an association agreement with NRL club Parramatta Eels while have hosted major NRL names such as Brad Fittler for coaching sessions.

Marconi chairman and acting president Vince Foti said he’d welcome an NRL pre-season game at their boutique Bossley Park stadium as the club looks beyond its traditional football powerbase for revenue and community involvement.

“It took a while to convince them [the members of Marconi] and I did cringe when I saw those rugby league uprights on the Marconi pitch,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“But it was terrific to see those [NRL] personalities there. We are a soccer club with a very, very long tradition, but we welcome Rugby League.

“And we’d certainly welcome that [an NRL game]... it does mean revenue for the club."

Foti admits former NSL club Marconi Stallions, which since the formation of the A-League plays in the second tier and largely ignored NSW premier league, is struggling to generate income from football.

“You can’t really make money [from football in Australia]. Sometimes having tradition is a costly business," said Foti.

“Without a doubt we are forgotten. And the teams of the NSL are forgotten. And unfortunately the A-League has not progressed to my mind.

“Look at the promotions that AFL and Rugby League do and then look at soccer? It’s chalk and cheese.”

However he predicted that if the A-League decided to play a one-off game at Marconi be a sell-out at a boutique ground that holds around 12,000.

“I can’t understand they don’t look into that sort of thing,” he said.

“If there was an association with an A-League team I’d encourage them to have at least one or two games in the season at a stadium such as Marconi. And it would get a complete and utter full house.

“And with that comes the atmosphere that is so lacking at the moment and also the opportunity for those supporters to be united.”

Regulations regarding transfers of players to A-League and NYL teams further restrict their revenue stream.

Foti says he’s baffled that Sydney FC hasn’t sought to plug into Marconi’s estimated 30,000 membership database via its large premises.

He added that he hadn’t heard from any potential western Sydney A-League franchise but said the club was open to the idea.

“If someone offered me a potential 30, 000 membership of supporters I’d be breaking my legs to run to them.”

Marconi has a proud tradition in football. Competing in every season of the NSL, the western Sydney club produced numerous Socceroos, NSL and A-League players.

The NSL power won the title four times – the last in 1993 – and an NSL Cup.

Its premises, training pitches and home ground– despite issues over one stand which remains closed due to buildiing concerns – are considered some of the best in Sydney. But that means nothing in 2011.

“In my position at the club I have to look at everything. And my love is soccer however I can’t be justified in being completely and utterly biased [towards soccer]. I have to look at everything,” he said.

“We are the servants of the membership whilst the membership wants soccer – and they do and are passionate – and while they say yes, we’ll certainly give it to them.

“Soccer at the moment is on an uncertain [future],” Foti added. “It was a big blow we didn’t get the World Cup bid as it would’ve boosted interest in the game all over.”