Football South Coast officials, however, are confident this plan is a positive step forward in the region’s prolonged quest for an A-League club.

FSC Chairman Eddy De Gabriele said the partnership will see a renewed investment in junior development, with an increased focus on providing opportunities to play in the A-League. 

“The decision by Football South Coast to partner with Southern Expansion is a strategic one,” De Gabriele said. “It’s one that is totally selfish. For us, for the Illawarra, we want A-League, W-League and National Youth League games in the Illawarra.

“In the past, games that have been here at national sports levels have gone away from the Illawarra. We are doing the reverse. By partnering with Southern Expansion, we see a great potential here for the growth of the game and for the opportunities for our children, boys and girls.”

After Wednesday’s announcements, De Gabriele told the Mercury FSC maintain hope for a Wollongong-based team, with the only other Illawarra bid to come from the Wolves, who are currently in the NSW National Premier League. 

At the press conference, Southern Expansion chairman Morris Iemma declared their bid was superior. 

“With no disrespect to the Wollongong Wolves bid,” Iemma said. “The criteria and the actual numbers that are required would suggest that’s possibly not the best way to achieve A-League status.

“We believe that by combining three regions that have a lot in common, in sport, in education, in health, with very strong transport links, being together is the best way to win the license and get into the A-League.

“Clearly from the past and from informal feedback we’ve had, you’ve got to pass a critical number in terms of population, you’ve got to pass a critical number in terms of players, and whilst Football South Coast is a wonderful association, on it’s own, you won’t see Football South Coast or a Wollongong Wolves bid pass that threshold.”

Iemma also moved to dispel fears the South Coast would be neglected, stating the group’s desire to deliver continued investment in the region.

He affirmed that matches will be split evenly between the three stadiums, WIN Stadium, Southern Cross Group Stadium in Sutherland and Kogarah’s Jubilee Oval.

“It’s very much a three-way partnership and there will be no diluting anybody’s involvement. Quite to the contrary, it’s vital that we delver on our commitments.

“It’s vital that the partnership not only be established, but grow, because we can’t be successful as a football club on the park and off the park without players, without development, without youngsters coming through the pathways and people turning up to WIN to watch matches.”

Southern Expansion Head of Football Craig Foster said the group has moved to establish Illawarra pathways. 

“We want to help all of the clubs here, we want to help the schools to have the best football programs, we want to bring our coaches down here,” Foster said.