FFA has delayed expansion for two years after they found that expanding the league by two teams under the current model would result in net losses over the next six years.

As a result, the governing body will be working with an advisory firm to develop a new model and structure who will also provide advice on making the expansion process more financially prudent.

With A-League expansion on hold till the 2018-19 season, the Chairman of South Melbourne’s bid advisory team, Bill Papastergiadis urged FFA not make the delay indefinite.

“What we don’t want to see is if they derail it permanently rather than a period of time,” he said.

“We are hopeful it’s not delayed long term and we are going to continue with our own preparedness to be part of that league.”

“At the end of the day we need to work with the relevant authorities and organisations for the better of the game. We also need more information about what exactly is meant by what has been proposed.”

While FFA has set an expansion time frame of two years, Papastergiadis said the former NSL powerhouse is ready to be in the A-League now.

 “Our club is a ready-made club and our club could participate tomorrow,” he said.

“We don’t to have to go out there and plan for a stadium or for players or set up an administration.

“A slight delay doesn’t affect us because those decisions in terms of our structure and our set up has been made a long time ago and have been implemented a long time ago.”

Papastergiadis said the four-time NSL Champions would be able to meet any criteria that FFA set for expansion.

“We have produced 53 Socceroos, our DNA’s throughout the entire A-League,” he said.

“If you look at Melbourne the entire coaches are all South Melbourne. Melbourne Victory’s coach is a South Melbourne product, Melbourne City coach is a South Melbourne product the national coach is a South Melbourne product.

“We’ve set most of the attendances records historically in the previous league. We have the best junior development program in Victoria which was awarded by Football Federation Victoria (FFV).

“Recently the live screening of the Bulleen vs South Melbourne match on FFV Facebook page got 93,000 views for the match. A similar match between Newcastle and Melbourne Victory that night produced 53,000 views on Foxtel.

“We will have our own boutique stadium, our own social club, we can value add that no-one else can, we are the club that is basically the next one in line. We’ve got 100,000 people on social media, even the A-league clubs don’t have that.”

 

Picture supplied by South Melbourne