A fresh blow to Tasmanian A-League bid
Tasmania’s A-League hopes have suffered a setback as Tasmania not being mentioned as a possible location for a new A-League club according to Football Federation Tasmania chief executive Mike Palmer.
The report comes from The Mercury who reveal that should the Wellington Phoenix license be scrapped a Tasmanian A-League side should not be considered. This new does not bode well for the state who had a consortium ready to meet with Football Federation Australia this week.
The future of the Wellington Phoenix has been up in the air after Football Federation Australia would only offer the Phoenix a four year extension not a 10 year one like the other clubs have received The Phoenix joined a then 10 team competition when the New Zealand Knights folded in 2007.
There have been speculation of another Sydney side to enter the A-League in the south, which would be the most likely replacement for a departing Phoenix if they depart the league. Wollongong Wolves have been touted as a possible A-League side in the past, but it has only ever been rumours of an interest to join the league.
Frank Lowy has said there are other locations that could be on the table, a third side in Victoria could be the go as South Melbourne have also been rumoured to have been wanting to be apart of the A-League Lowy has mentioned Victoria, Canberra and Queensland as other possibilities.
Tasmania not being mentioned among the possible locations as a possible replacement for the A-League demonstrates the A-League’s desire to consolidate its 10 team model in big markets suggested Mike Palmer.
In 2008 a Tasmanian Football Taskforce was formed to investigate an A-League bid for the state, even though they had the potential backing of Saudi Arabian Sheik Mohammed Hussein Ali Al Amoudi who was at the time the 77th richest man in the world and also after Western Sydney Wanderers entered the league in 2012-13 there has been no mention of a Tasmanian team joining the A-League one day.
It was announced in September that Tasmania would not host a pre-season A-League game this season, also fixtures in the state in the future remain in doubt.
Palmer has also said that Hobart and Launceston not getting five figure crowds to games when they were in the state also hurt Tasmania’s chances. The crowds in Tasmania had been between 6000 to 7000 which are the same numbers that the Wellington Phoenix are getting.
The Tasmanian football community may get relegated to watching the A-League on TV, and despite the Melbourne Victory having the naming rights to the local league it seems the state will go without A-League action unless something changes.
Football Federation Australia are committed to expansion come the end of the season, which is when their broadcast deal with Fox Sports and SBS runs out. Their desire is to add more teams, while some in the state were hopeful of a Tasmanian side it seems all but gone now.
Tasmania will again have to wait to be added to a national competition, the chances of either the A-League or the AFL becoming a full time home for a Tasmanian side seems very unlikely at this stage.
