EXCLUSIVE: South Coast FC have put the disappointment of missing out on an A-League expansion spot and believe their bid will be stronger for joining the race earlier than their rivals.
Despite Queensland snapping up the first two A-League expansion spots for next season, South Coast Football say they've laid the foundations for the 2010 season.
"South Coast FC's focus has always ultimately been on a 2010 entry, but we submitted our bid for 2009 so that we could enter the arena in a formal and official manner," Eddy de Gabriele, South Coast bid chairman, told au.fourfourtwo.com.
"Our thorough preparations allowed us to submit a feasible and sustainable application for a 2009 entry, but we were always aware that this would be a very difficult exercise to get up for a 2009 start and we conveyed that message to all our potential sponsors and investors."
North Queensland FC and Gold Coast United were always hot favourite to be awarded an expansion slot having began their formal bid campaigns as early as late last year.
South Coast, with the backing of high profile Socceroos such as Scott Chipperfield and Tim Cahill, met with FFA last week after their bid materialised in recent months. According to De Gabriele, it's better to have started now in order to fine-tune their bid.
"This also ensured that we obtained some formal feedback and assessment on our bid submission," he said.
"We felt it would allow us to continue to fine tune and adjust our submission and application so as to be fully prepared for our ultimate goal of a 2010 entry."
A key plank of the bid is the partial rebuild of WIN stadium in Wollongong. The state government is said to be willing to allocate major infrastructure funding for the run-down western grandstand if and when South Coast gets the A-League green light.
Another important element in the club's bid is an association with an organisation that will reduce the club's running costs.
The area had a successful NSL club in Wollongong Wolves which won the title in 2000 and 2001. Both title winning sides featured a number of A-League stars, including Sasho Petrovski, Paul Reid, Alvin Ceccoli as well as Scott Chipperfield.
However, strong bids from Canberra, west Sydney and Melbourne are also expected to provide stiff opposition for expansion spots 11 and 12. De Gabriele is still upbeat though.
"We feel that South Coast FC are on the right path in providing the essential elements that will enable this region to build a strong, successful and long term sustainable A-League club," added De Gabriele.
"South Coast FC's focus has always ultimately been on a 2010 entry, but we submitted our bid for 2009 so that we could enter the arena in a formal and official manner," Eddy de Gabriele, South Coast bid chairman, told au.fourfourtwo.com.
"Our thorough preparations allowed us to submit a feasible and sustainable application for a 2009 entry, but we were always aware that this would be a very difficult exercise to get up for a 2009 start and we conveyed that message to all our potential sponsors and investors."
North Queensland FC and Gold Coast United were always hot favourite to be awarded an expansion slot having began their formal bid campaigns as early as late last year.
South Coast, with the backing of high profile Socceroos such as Scott Chipperfield and Tim Cahill, met with FFA last week after their bid materialised in recent months. According to De Gabriele, it's better to have started now in order to fine-tune their bid.
"This also ensured that we obtained some formal feedback and assessment on our bid submission," he said.
"We felt it would allow us to continue to fine tune and adjust our submission and application so as to be fully prepared for our ultimate goal of a 2010 entry."
A key plank of the bid is the partial rebuild of WIN stadium in Wollongong. The state government is said to be willing to allocate major infrastructure funding for the run-down western grandstand if and when South Coast gets the A-League green light.
Another important element in the club's bid is an association with an organisation that will reduce the club's running costs.
The area had a successful NSL club in Wollongong Wolves which won the title in 2000 and 2001. Both title winning sides featured a number of A-League stars, including Sasho Petrovski, Paul Reid, Alvin Ceccoli as well as Scott Chipperfield.
However, strong bids from Canberra, west Sydney and Melbourne are also expected to provide stiff opposition for expansion spots 11 and 12. De Gabriele is still upbeat though.
"We feel that South Coast FC are on the right path in providing the essential elements that will enable this region to build a strong, successful and long term sustainable A-League club," added De Gabriele.
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