We're not out to steal Wanderers fans, says A-League bid boss

A-League hopefuls Macarthur South West Sydney insist they are chasing the allegiance of the disenfranchised and the uncommitted, rather than seeking to erode the existing supporter base of neighbouring Western Sydney Wanderers.

With two of eight aspirants to be granted expansion licenses for 2019-2020 by the FFA on October 31, the cashed-up bid, co-chaired by property financier and dyed-in-the-wool football fanatic Gino Marra, is one of the front-runners.

Backed by billionaire property magnate Lang Walker, and a collective of local business people, the bid boasts a fully functional and soon-to-be-upgraded Campbelltown Sports Stadium as its base.

There are also plans for a government and council financed $25 million state-of-the-art centre of excellence, and the vision of attracting support from the unaligned in a population corridor which has soared to in excess of 786,000. That number will swell over a million in the next five years.

The Wanderers have made no public pronouncements over the looming presence of another club in proximity to their catchment area.

And Marra insists they should have no lingering trepidation over a white-anting of Wanderland.

But should instead embrace the prospect of three ‘battle of the west’ Sydney derbies, to add to their existing rivalry with Sydney FC.

“We have put up a strong bid which we don’t think will have any impact on Sydney FC, let alone the Wanderers,” Marra said.

“I’ve spoken with (Wanderers CEO) John Tsatsimas, who I’ve known from my dealings at Southern Districts Football Association, and we’re not looking for any of the membership from the Wanderers.

“If they walk away from reviewing our bid document (made available to the A-League clubs by FFA during the week) and they feel that ‘these guys are well organised, understand the dynamics and we agree with 80 per cent of it’, then we don’t have an issue.

“The reality is the people we’re trying to embrace don’t go to A-league games. 

“We’re after the hearts and minds of people who aren’t going to games.

“That’s how we’re going to be successful: not by stealing a couple of thousand members from the Wanderers.”

MSWS are going toe-to-toe with Chinese-backed Sutherland shire-based Southern Expansion and former NSL giants Wollongong Wolves in pursuit of a fifth NSW license.

Their backyard is a heartland that has produced a conga line of Socceroos and is home to nine NPL clubs, four of whom competed in the old NSL.

Comparisons and a perceived conflict with the Wanderers over the loyalties of locals are in some ways inevitable.

“They are a great club and I believe they will be the biggest club in the A-League in the next two to three years,” Marra added.

“They are a benchmark for all clubs to follow. They are well run by JT and Paul Lederer - two very smart business and football people. 

“We hope to do in our region what they have done in Western Sydney. 

“The ‘battle of the west’ I believe will be the biggest derby in the country with great football and massive benefit for both clubs.”

To reiterate the argument about bringing new to faces to the A-League fan tapestry, Marra added: “My parents were staunch Marconi fans.

“After Marconi didn’t go through to the A-League, they didn’t follow through to the A-League either.

“Walking around the streets of Fairfield, Liverpool and Campbelltown there are a lot of people there who don’t support the A-League for whatever reason. 

“The Wanderers haven’t got hold of them, nor have Sydney FC.

“We’ve got something these people feel they can own, they can touch, they can feel.

“We’re ready to go from day one.”

Marra has been Instrumental in formulating a fixture between a South West National Premier League invitational team and Usain Bolt’s Central Coast Mariners at Campbelltown Stadium on Friday, October 12.

“This is about showcasing football in south western Sydney,” he said. “Having the Mariners here is a big thing for us and it shows that some of the other A-League clubs believe in what we are trying to achieve.”

Over 2000 tickets for the sprint legend’s second run out in a Mariners shirt, as he seeks to win an A-League contract, have already been sold.