news, local-news, Wollongong Wolves, A-League

EXCLUSIVE The Wollongong Wolves have made the shortlist for A-League expansion, with a formal announcement to be made on Friday afternoon. The Wolves were one of 15 submissions to Football Federation Australia to be included in the A-League competition in 2018-19. The Mercury understands the Wolves have made the final cut, with as many as eight bids left standing. Wollongong won the National Soccer League championship in 1999-2000, in the famous comeback from 3-nil down against the Glory in Perth to win on penalties, and against in 2000-01 against South Melbourne. But the club fell on hard times following the demise of the NSL in 2004-05 and after losing their home ground at Brandon Park. They are currently fifth on the NSW National Premier League standings, the second-tier of Australian football. It is as yet unclear if rival South Coast bid Southern Expansion, which includes the Illawarra, St George and Sutherland regions, has also been included. The shortlist announcement was to have been made two weeks ago, but advisory firm Deloitte wanted to seek more information. The shortlisted teams will have two months to submit their final applications, before the two new A-League teams are announced on October 31. The other submissions include South-West Sydney (Liverpool) and Campbelltown bids from NSW, Team 11 (Dandenong), South Melbourne, West Melbourne and Belgravia from Victoria, Brisbane City, Gold Coast United and Western Pride (Ipswich), Tasmiania, South Australia, Canberra and Fremantle. MORE TO COME Wolves fans hijack World Cup broadcast, and A-League rival’s reaction is priceless

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