Club chairman Scott Barlow released a strong endorsement for a team located in Campbelltown describing it as an “exciting proposition for the A-League”.

But he also used the opportunity to stick the boot into the Southern Expansion bid which draws on the St George and Sutherland regions – Sydney FC heartland. Barlow labelled that bid as “deeply flawed,” "conflicted" and predicted it would cut the Sky Blues “off at the knees”.

Barlow added: “As for a third team in Sydney, I am in full support of a team located in Sydney’s South West representing the rapidly growing region of Macarthur."

Both rival bids have high-powered support. Macarthur, which would be based at the 20,000 capacity Campbelltown Stadium, is backed by billionaire property developer Lang Walker with former Sky Blues player and ex Socceroo Brett Emerton as ambassador. Former NSW Premier Morris Iemma heads Southern Expansion which includes Australian football royalty including Craig Foster, Craig Johnston.

Barlow said: “The Macarthur region is the future of Sydney. It’s the city’s fastest growing region and will have one million people living there in the coming years.  It is an area with a very high proportion of young families - perfect for an A-League club. 

"This is where a big successful club can be based, in the heart of a growing community and with a fanbase that has a real sense of ownership in the club.  Campbelltown Stadium is the ideal home, they have the full support of the Campbelltown Mayor and they now have the support of one of Australia’s leading businessmen, Lang Walker AO.  What a coup it would be to have someone of Lang’s stature involved in the A-League.

“In complete contrast to the Macarthur proposal, I am strongly opposed to a team based in south Sydney.  The southern regions of Sydney including St George and Sutherland are vital parts of Sydney FC’s heartland.  Thirty per cent of our members come from the south, in fact more than from the east of Sydney.  And over the next three seasons we will be playing close to half our home games at Kogarah.

“A new team based in the south would be very damaging to our club and would result in huge cannibalisation of our fanbase.  Put simply it would cut our club off at the knees.

In the past the Sky Blues have supported the Wollongong Wolves’ A-League ambitions.

Football Federation Australia has received 15 expressions of interest from across Australia and will announce the two successful expansion bids for the 2019/20 season in October.

Barlow said there was no question the A-League must expand from 10 teams to 12 and then 14 but added: “We simply cannot afford to get these decisions wrong and I share the same concerns as the other A-League chairmen about the process and the timeline the FFA is currently pursuing.”

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