sport, local-sport, A-League, Phoenix, Wellington, Wollongong, FFA

WELLINGTON have demanded clarification over their A-League future, as the club’s exit could open the door for a Wollongong presence in the national competition next year. A third Sydney team is gaining momentum to replace the New Zealand outfit, after an application for a new 10-year licence was rejected by Football Federation Australia. It raises the prospect of a new team with a geographical area similar to St George Illawarra in the NRL, based either in the Sutherland Shire or at a new development at Kogarah. Discussions have been ongoing for more than a year about tapping into the south coast market, which could see as many as four games per season at WIN Stadium. With a new television rights deal on the horizon, A-League boss Damien de Bohun last week declared there were “no plans for expansion of the Hyundai A-League in the foreseeable future”. De Bohun’s comments mean Wollongong’s only hope of A-League involvement in the next decade could be if the Phoenix are forced out of the competition. "The club will be seeking greater clarity around the reasons for rejection of the proposal and how the FFA is evaluating the Phoenix's contribution to game development, player pathway, commercial factors, broadcast rights and the long-term success of the Hyundai A-League, to which the Phoenix is already making a material and positive contribution," the Phoenix said in a statement issued on Tuesday morning. “The club's Welnix ownership group and board will meet to consider the license extension option in the existing club participation agreement and will continue to negotiate in good faith with the FFA.” The biggest support for a team on the south coast instead of Sydney will come from league heavyweights Sydney FC. Before a pre-season trial against Wellington in Wollongong in September, coach Graham Arnold made it clear the Sky Blues would lead the backlash about any third Sydney team. ‘’Is there a place in the A-League for Wollongong for expansion? I would say probably there is but I don’t think it should be any further north than Wollongong,’’ he told the Mercury. ‘‘If there is talk about south of Sydney, I think our owners would have more to say about than me, but Sutherland Shire is a huge area for Sydney FC where we have a lot of members. For the Wollongong area and down this far I think there is definitely an opportunity for expansion with a wonderful facility like (WIN Stadium).’’

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