South Hobart’s bid to be the Tasmanian club accepted into the proposed National Second Division football competition scheduled to commence next March has taken a new twist.
The proposed new competition, which will sit below the A-League, will comprise 10 or 12 clubs.
Football Australia, which will run the competition, has accepted eight clubs so far to be foundation members - five from New South Wales and three from Victoria.
This follows an application and selection process begun in 2023.
The eight foundation clubs are: APIA Leichhardt, Marconi Stallions, Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58, Wollongong Wolves (NSW), Avondale, South Melbourne, Preston Lions (Victoria).
Another application and selection process for the remaining two or four clubs is currently being undertaken.
The original South Hobart application has taken on a new dimension and, with the approval of Football Australia, a new body representing Tasmania and not just the South Hobart club has thrown its hat in the ring.
There are reportedly mixed feelings about this within the South Hobart club.
The new consortium is headed by South Hobart’s vice president, Edward Swan, and includes advisers David Bartlett, a former Tasmanian premier, and Brian Wightman, a former Tasmanian treasurer.
Other board members have yet to be announced.
At a media conference today, Swan said the new entity had the support of other clubs and junior football organisations from all over Tasmania.
He said football was the largest participation sport in Tasmania and the aim would be to provide pathways to the top of the game for youngsters, both male and female.
He said any Tasmanian team would include more than just a token number of Tasmanian players.
The eventual aim of playing in the second tier of a national competition, he said, was to end up with men’s and women’s A-League teams.
Bartlett’s expertise will be invaluable as his involvement with basketball in the state followed a similar pathway, namely of having a team in a second-tier national competition and culminating in the formation of the Jackjumpers, who play in the top tier, the National Basketball League.
Bartlett is a fan of football and was a player with University, Taroona and Kingborough Lions.
Wightman has strong football pedigree as his family have been mainstays of the Riverside Olympic club, for which he himself played.
Swan said South Hobart had grants of about $1 million from previous development applications relating to the South Hobart Oval and possibly another $0.1 million from sponsors and interested parties, but he called on an election commitment of $10.5 million over five years from all contenders in the coming State election to support a Tasmanian team.
He was hoping for a commitment of $2.5 million in the first year and then a further $2 million in each of the next four years.
“Playing in the new National Second Division competition is Tasmania putting a toe into deeper water, an opportunity to show our strengths and strive for the top on the national stage,” Swan said.
If it all comes to fruition, games would be played at a revamped South Hobart Oval, but also at at least two other venues in the north of the State.
A bid by South Hobart alone would probably have led to division in State football, but a Tasmanian bid, which also included South Hobart, would undoubtedly have greater acceptance.
The promise of money is now of the utmost importance to the success of the bid, while the revamping of the South Hobart Oval is essential.
Possible opposition from members of the South Hobart community to floodlighting of the ground, and from special interest groups such as dog walkers, will have to be managed by the new group in consultation with community members and the Hobart City Council.
It is uncertain how the new bid will impact Football Tasmania’s vision of having a Tasmanian A-League team.
And, there are no plans to have promotion and relegation applying between the A-League and the National Second Division for at least the next decade.
11 comments:
Now where is my Cavoodle supposed to take a dump ? IT’s favourite spot is at the southern penalty area ! Sounds more like South’s are trying to hold the hand out for the 10 million without giving any consideration to my poor old Pepe
Everybody is dreaming.
The mathematics simply do not add up.
This is a pathway to destruction.
When will South Hobart start being HONEST for once
Football Tasmania have opposed the NSD bid, per Facebook https://www.facebook.com/photo.php/?photo_id=852955536633460
Must be no real business case as if there was you’d think Devonport would put their hand up being the modest successful club of this era
Devonport has been on record in the local rag some time ago saying the NSD makes no financial sense for them. I wouldn't be touching this NSD with a ten foot pole if I was anyone in Tasmania until I can see that the comp can stand on its own two feet for at least 3-4 years.
The finances aside, there's not a single player at South Hobart who would be good enough to play in the NSD. I couldn't even name one good enough to play in the Vic or nsw npl. It would be a team sourced from interstate.
South put their spin on anything that gives the impression it is good for the game. If it is good for South they will support it.
Otherwise they don’t.
Let’s wake up .
Comm 11.58 you are so right ,it would be embarrassing.
Our youth development is rubbish our state team coaches are jokes.
We just don't have population base to support players of any calibre.
T h e game is here every year in both men's and women's becomes of a lower standard.
Especially the women's standard has dropped girls left for AFL not prepared to travel to play WSL.
Anon 2.31. Our state coaches rubbish?
Look at who selects them and you will find out why.
Jobs for the boys.
I get the standard is not to scratch in the NPL. But we need to have a team for kids to know the standard required to make it. Without a doubt, the starting 11 and subs would not be from Tasmania at first. Maybe a few would make the extended squad first up. The head coach would not be from Tasmania also if we are honest too. Got to start somewhere though
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