Canberra wants A-League berth by 2013

Very interesting...

"Canberra celebrates its centenary in 2013, and that's the milestone we're looking at," said Slavich"

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/canberra-wants-aleague-berth-by-2013-20110916-1kdb5.html

If the FFA were smart they would give them the license now but don't let them kick a ball till 2013/2014.

Give them 2-3+ years to work up enough sponsorship and money to last themselves at least 5 years.

Things like the Canberra bid cannot be hinging hopes and dreams of glory on the next TV deal.

And FFA should not be rushing into expansion again unless there is large amounts of capital on the table to sustain them through poor crowd averages until they can get on their feet.

Severe capital perhaps

Furthermore, getting a youth team up and running in the next year or so, so that the Canberra a-league team has a base of youngsters to supplement their squad.

If not a NYL team, then maybe even a NSWPL team?

Some people on here complaining about the stadium...seriously disagree, it is more than an adequate a-league venue. Sure the public transport to there isn't great but Canberra's very car-oriented. The parking there is decent. And with the Raiders games they run bus services from clubs around the place.

Seriously FFA, give us a provisional licence, and we can build towards something, you don't even have to give us a date, but don't let this bid die.

2013, assuming everything in their bids are good to go, would be the ideal time for both Western Sydney and Canberra to enter the A-League. Two more seasons with the current setup, with the new TV rights deal on the horizon, would ensure the A-League should be set to expand.

Am slightly concerned that we are yet to increase our capital, however can totally understand why there hasn't. I remember Slavich saying that the reason for the slow accruing of funds is because investors are not committed to pledging their money to a team that is not even involved in the league. He stated if Canberra were granted a provisional licence, this however, would not be the case.

The thing we and the FFA can garner from this situation, is to grant us a provisional licence. Honestly cannot see any harm in doing so.

The A-League needs a period of consolation IMO, with the demise of the Fury and the Sydney Rovers occurring in the past year or so, as well as the current insecurity of Wellington and Gold Coast. However, the time frame of 2011 until 2013 provides the FFA and us with this. Thus, 2013 is the most ideal time for Canberra to enter along with a Western Sydney bid, assuming all aspects of the bid are sound and secure.

Agree with the above, the FFA MUST give us a provisional licence to ensure we can muster up some investors.

Did anyone see the Canberra Times article which might have been the same one? SMH/CT's share articles so i'll look it up.

Its been ages since iv been on this forum...

This is it and its the same article,

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/canberra-to-have-aleague-team-by-2013/2294669.aspx?storypage=0

Agree with Chris1822, we should have a strategy and plan to make a successful HAL club that produces talented youth and ensures as a sustainable business to run.

So far most expansion clubs have been a failure, if Canberra was given a working license now to have a club in either 2012/13 or 2013/14 then we could build towards that.

If FFA says we can have a club a few months before season kickoff then we will be destined to failure.

We should absolutely have a NYL team in next season and that can be the first step towards HAL success.

As Thom and Chris have stated, it would be hugely beneficial if we were granted a licence for a youth league team perhaps as early as next season. Would provide us with a great gateway to potential players and couple this with the AIS, we would be looking very strong in our first few seasons.

Do it, FFA.

having a canberra athletic a-league by 2013 is actually pretty realistic and i hope it happens. i was thinking in the mean time, instead of canberra fc (act prem team) joining the NSWPL system, why not establish Canberra Athletic now, build up sponsorship and marketing and play in the NSW system instead of canberra fc. it also gives canberra athletic some foundations prior to a-league acceptance which is something that most expansion teams have lacked.

Also something I read a few months back. I think our club should follow the Mariners template

"What they’ve created is a fully integrated, top-to-bottom pathway which allows every talented child the opportunity to train for Mariners and dream of a professional career"

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/craig-foster/blog/1067437/Mariners-an-example-for-all